River Clean Up This Weekend!!!

Big St. Johns River cleanup on Saturday

BY JIM WAYMER • FLORIDA TODAY • March 19, 2010

Along the St. Johns River, litter cleanups always seem to deliver a few surprises.

During a Feb. 27 cleanup at Sarno Lakes, volunteers found snakes under mattresses, a propane tank with a beehive inside and a 9 mm handgun with its numbers filed off.

"We called the sheriff's department and they made it a crime scene," said Barbara Venuto, environmental programs coordinator for Keep Brevard Beautiful, a non-profit group.

The group expects a few more surprises this Saturday when volunteers fan out along the river's floodplains to gather more things that don't belong.

Keep Brevard Beautiful still needs volunteers for Saturday's four cleanup sites.

While the cleanups are safe events, Venuto said volunteers should be on guard.

"I think everyone needs to be aware that you are entering habitat where there are alligators and snakes," she said.

People leave behind a litany of items.

High waters may hide many items, said Leroy Wright, a long-time river advocate.

"It's near flood stage out there now. It's really high," he said. "I think a lot of that stuff is gong to be submerged."

The cleanup never ends, nor does Wright's desire to protect the river.

Even the prospect of snakes and alligators won't keep him away.

"I'm looking forward to getting out there," he said.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100319/NEWS01/3190326/1006/Big%20St.%20Johns%20River%20cleanup%20on%20Saturday