Byrnes Mill Mayor Rob Kiczenski is seeking volunteers to help clean up a stretch of the Big River between Rockford Park and Byrnes Mill City Park on Saturday, Aug. 23, as part of the region’s 58th annual Operation Clean Stream.
Kiczenski, the cleanup organizer for the 3-mile section of the river, said volunteers will begin their work at 9 a.m. The cleanup is expected to last about four hours.
He said the volunteers will receive free doughnuts from the Blue Owl Bakery in House Springs, joking that it will provide the “sugar high” they need to get started. They also will receive a free T-shirt. Lunch from Domino’s pizza will be provided, too.
Other Byrnes Mill city officials will participate in the cleanup, Kiczenski said, including Police Chief Frank T. Selvaggio.
“It’s something to be proud of,” he said. “Everyone can help out a little bit and make things better.”
Kiczenski said he is looking for about 30 volunteers and as of Aug. 8, he had 20 signed up.
Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own boats and or kayaks to help remove items from the river.
Although everyone is welcome, he said volunteers younger than 18 need a parent or guardian present.
Kiczenski said he has been involved with Operation Clean Stream for the past 15 years, and the most common items removed from the river are old tires.
“There were close to 100 last year,” he said. “We also see a lot of plastic items and other garbage.”
Since 1967, Open Space STL has been organizing Operation Clean Stream every August as a regionwide effort to help preserve the Meramec River and its tributaries.
For more information about Operation Clean Stream, visit openspacestl.org/operation-clean-stream. To volunteer, email robert.kiczenski@byrnesmill.org.