By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Canoe the Cahaba, Cahaba Riverkeeper, and The Friends of the Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with the Alabama Power Renew our Rivers program and Southern Company, will host an annual river cleanup on Saturday, March 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers and participants will be collecting trash both on land and by boat, weather permitting.

Event Organizer David Butler said all volunteers and participants will meet at the Helena Amphitheater in the morning where they will register and divide into groups.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own boats and gear if possible. There will be a limited number of canoes available for those wishing to be on the water, but a reservation is required.

This will be a great opportunity to keep the Cahaba beautiful and to raise awareness to make sure people dispose of trash responsibly.

“We are obviously there to pick up trash but we just want to help people be aware,” said Butler. “People think when you throw trash out the window and on the road that it stays there but it doesn’t. It blows into the drainage system and leads to the creek and river.”

Participants will be provided gloves, pick sticks, t-shirts and a hot dog lunch.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and sponsors will be listed on event pages, as well as event t-shirts. Email madrecycler@gmail.com for more information.

Volunteer opportunities are available and anyone wishing to volunteer their time and skills are encouraged to attend.