By Emma Rausch
emma@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – More than 110 Wabash County residents trekked through the Wabash River Saturday morning, July 29, to remove several tons of debris during the Wabash River Defenders’ annual “Clean Out the Banks.”
From the Huntington line to Peru, locals waded through 19 miles of the river to search for and remove debris and trash from the banks of Wabash County’s “lifeblood.”
The Wabash River Defenders, a nonprofit organization focused on educating, reviving and maintaining the Wabash River through Wabash County, began the annual clean out in 2011.
Since then, defenders have pulled out more than 124 tons of debris and 4,800 tires from the river.
While Saturday’s formal event kicked off at 8:30 a.m. at Paradise Spring Historical Park, Wabash River Defenders founder Michael Beauchamp told The Paper of Wabash County that some groups were already in the water.
“We have a 110 signed up for today and it’s always been this way,” Beauchamp said, later adding, “I’m thrilled with the turnout. We don’t have the numbers like we did several years ago, but I don’t think it’s a change in enthusiasm. I think it’s a change in how many people we need.
“You’re not going to see a big pile of debris today and it’s not impacted by the number of people. It’s impacted by the (amount) of debris in the river.”
By 1:30 p.m., groups drug more than 20 tires, a flat screen television, bicycles, road construction material, several tons of metal and trash out of the river and onto its banks to be properly removed.
The volunteers were in a “mindset to care,” defenders agreed.
“It is so heartfelt that people give up their Saturday morning to come out and help care for the Wabash River,” Keith Poole, Defenders committee member, said.
As the need for debris removal continues to diminish, the Wabash River Defenders plan to shift their focus from cleaning the river to a water quality initiative, according to Beauchamp.
To read more on Saturday’s event, check out the Aug. 2 edition of The Paper of Wabash County.
