BOONE RIVER – It’s not every day hundreds of strangers converge on a river to pick up trash. That, however, is exactly what will happen this week, when over 300 volunteers will spend their vacations cleaning up, learning about, and exploring more than 60 miles of the Boone River between Goldfield and Stratford in Wright, Hamilton, and Webster counties.

“A clean river is vital to our communities. From the paddlers and anglers that visit our county to the residents that take pride in our river. We strongly support Project AWARE and all of its work to keep Iowa’s rivers clean,” says Brian Lammers, Hamilton County Conservation Executive Director.

Iowa Project AWARE, which stands for A Watershed Awareness River Expedition, is the state’s largest volunteer river cleanup event. In addition to muscling trash out of the river, participants learn about watersheds, geology, archaeology, recycling and other natural resource topics. This year’s expedition not only showcases the Boone River, but it also offers opportunities for residents and visitors alike to connect with the river and enrich their sense of place.

“Infotainment” programs are held each evening and are open to the public. These programs will highlight local natural resources, history, and archaeology that make this area unique. The programs will be held at Briggs Woods Park each night.

“Over the years, the City of Webster City has been active in promoting/enhancing outdoor recreation activities and in improving the environmental quality of the Boone River Valley. The Boone River is the State of Iowa’s first Protected Water Area and one of the first designated Water Trails. Project AWARE’s goals and mission fit in perfectly with what the City of Webster City values,” says Brian Stroner, Webster City’s Environmental/GIS Coordinator.

Registration is not required for the general public to attend evening programs. For more information on this event visit www.iowaprojectaware.org.