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Come One, Come All - A Cedar River Experience Awaits
Posted: May 28, 2009

DES MOINES - Whether you wish to volunteer or simply stop in to learn something new, the DNR invites you to the seventh annual Project AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition) river cleanup event. This year's expedition, scheduled for June 20-27, combines river cleanup, recreation and education into a meaningful and rewarding experience for all.

Volunteers can officially join the river cleanup by paddling the river or by assisting with land-based recycling initiatives, but there are opportunities for others to experience Project AWARE as well. "Infotainment" programs, for example, are held each evening and are open to the public. A complete schedule for these programs can be found on the Project AWARE Web site - www.iowaprojectaware.com.

In the six-year history of Project AWARE, the expedition has sported an impressive track record, enlisting 1,231 participants who have cleaned up more than 480 river miles and removed more than 1,500 cubic yards of trash, of which 81 percent has been recycled. Volunteers have also restored native prairie, renovated trails and enhanced recreational areas.

This year's event is expected to bring hundreds of volunteers to the Cedar River and focus on an 86-mile stretch from Wildcat Bluff near Urbana to Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area near Muscatine. While the expedition lasts an entire week, volunteers may stay and help for as little or as long as they like.

While the work can be tough and dirty, the expedition is really one of a kind.

"Project AWARE is my RAGBRAI ... my vacation," says Cindy Watson, a four-year Project AWARE veteran. "It's a chance to come together with a bunch of other Iowans who want to make a difference and clean up our Iowa waters."

Registration is not required for the general public to attend evening programs, but it is required for those who wish to volunteer for the river cleanup itself. To avoid a late registration fee, volunteers are asked to have their registration forms postmarked by Friday, June 5.

For more information on this event or to download the registration materials, please visit www.iowaprojectaware.com or contact Brian Soenen at Brian.Soenen@dnr.iowa.gov or (515) 205-8587.