Inspired work removes tons of trash from river

Iowa Project AWARE is not for the faint of heart. It’s usually hot. Folks get muddy. Lifting parts of appliances, tires and other trash weighed down by water and mud tests muscles and patience.

But every year adults and children take on the challenge, contributing efforts as their size and abilities comfortably allow. This year, almost 400 volunteers and staff did so.

Photos tell much of the story of AWARE (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition). Some things, though, are only fully appreciated by being part of the annual river cleanup. Comradery, for example. It takes a team to dismantle an entire car or lift a large, water logged carpet from the river where it has laid for years.

It’s common to hear, “We need a hand,” or “Anyone have a shovel?” People come together to do the heavy lifting, give a shout when an unwieldly scrap is hoisted and then move on to the next surprise hidden just below the surface.

AWARE supporters gather on July 10 and include (front row, from right) Mike Birmingham, Seth Zimmermann, Sam Zimmermann and Kyle Skoff. In the second row are (third and fourth from right) Mark Johnston and Travis Morarend.

More than 40,000 pounds of trash and debris was pulled from Iowa’s Maquoketa River July 8 – 13 in this 16th year of Iowa Project AWARE. The reward is not only in removing tons of garbage, but also in floating down a peaceful waterway knowing that you helped make it a bit easier to navigate and cleaner.

“The volunteers and many of the event staff take vacation to do this. That inspires me,” said Mike Birmingham, limnologist. “Perhaps I'm a bit too goal-oriented but with AWARE, hard work yields tangible results. At the end of the day or week, you can see (and feel like) something was accomplished.”

Birmingham, limnologists Mark Johnston and Travis Morarend, and Seth Zimmermann, environmental analyst, are 13-year AWARE veterans. Limnologist Kyle Skoff joined the team in 2013.

“I enjoy being outdoors and spending time on the rivers,” Skoff said. “The amount of trash I see while being out there has always bothered me. So I decided to help fix the problem.”

For many years, SHL has been a sponsor of AWARE, which is managed by N-Compass and led by Brian Soenen. He has been part of the all-volunteer project since its beginning in 2003 on the Maquoketa River.

“The first event saw about 25-30 volunteers per day, most of whom were older, and we had a small staff of six people with as many support vehicles,” Soenen said. “We now plan for 250 volunteers per day, and seek staffing levels of 20-25, along with just as many vehicles and trailers.

“The first year, we simply took garbage from the river and piled it on the banks, where it was picked up and taken to the landfill. It wasn't until the second year that our intensive recycling efforts began.”

The river selected for the 2019 Project AWARE and registration will be announced in the early spring. Volunteers can expect a wilderness adventure and to work alongside many AWARE veterans.

“I don't see how I couldn't be part of it,” Soenen said. “There are so many people who give so much to this effort, that not being part of it isn't really an option.”