Jefferson City Missouri River Cleanup 2016

Carl R. Noren Access at Wilson's Serenity Point - Jefferson City, MO
Saturday, September 10th, 2016

A huge, Big Muddy thanks to the 220 volunteers that spent a GORGEOUS Saturday morning helping to clean-up the Missouri River in Jeff City!

After three nights of heavy rains, we were so very lucky that the river stayed within cleanup range (i.e. not flood stage), and we were able to hit the river!  Volunteers had no problem finding piles of scrap metal, tires, bottles and stryofoam to clean up off of the muddy banks and 5 TONS of trash were removed in just a few short hours, to include an astounding 102 tires!  

Highlights included plein air artist, Cindy Scott of TooRooster Artistry that painted the event as it was happening.  

The Lonesome Campanions band played music for us during an amazing lunch, and after a fun trash contest, the remaining volunteer crew hit the recycling scene, to sort through it all. We are thrilled that the VAST majority of the trash was able to be sent to recyclers. 

This event was hosted by Missouri River Relief and sponsored by Missouri American Water, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources,the  Missouri Department of Conservation, the Mid Missouri Solid Waste Management District and a BUNCH of great Sponsors & Partners listed on the right.  »

Major partners included our fleet of 13 boats from the Mo. Dept. of Conservation, Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS), Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), Missouri River Relief and some local friends.

Thanks to the MANY hands and hearts for helping us make it happen!

Trash Tally:

195 Bags Trash
1 huge tractor-trailer tire w/out rim
102 tires
(1 tire on rim with axle hanging from it)
1 refrigerator
1 hot water heater
1 car bumper
1 oil drain pan
1 gas tank cover
1 car headlight
3 propane tanks
1 Freon tank
1 pump sprayer
1 brand new garden hose with packaging  
6 5-gallon buckets
2 50-gallon plastic barrels
8 plastic tubs
2 plastic milk crates
2 5-gallon metal buckets
3 50-gallon metal barrels
1 5-gallon stainless-steel milk can (very shiny)
1 2-cup glass measuring cup
1 large hunk Styrofoam
1 1/2-gallon jug of oil
2 paint cans (1 full of paint, 1 empty)
4 large pieces scrap metal
1 20-foot steel cable
1 metal spring
7 coolers
1 bunch fake grapes
1 12-foot iron pipe
9 large hunks plastic
1 6-foot roll acrylic sheeting (very heavy)
3 seed starter flats
1 TV back panel
1 radio vacuum tube
1 picnic table base (tubular steel)
1 lawn chair (green plastic)
1 length of rubber hosing
1 wood plank
1 garage door opener motor
2 wooden fence posts
1 signpost
1 4-foot wide metal culvert (fully rusted)
1 bin dog feeder
2 child’s car seats
1 fishing rod
1 duck decoy
1 Frisbee
1 sand bucket
1 yellow flip-flop
1 jet ski tread
1 ball bat
13 assorted balls (football, soccer, etc.)
1 toy chicken
1 toy sheep (contest winner)
1 red cardboard octopus (should have won the contest)
1 child’s 4-wheeler in pieces (steering wheel, axle, seat)
1 plastic toddler slide
2 plastic sleds
1 Tuggy the Tugboat
1 Bubba Keg
1 pair pink plastic sparkle sunglasses (lenses gone)
1 toy ladder (from a toy fire truck)
1 bottle cheap perfume
1 plastic animal leg bone
1 animal skull
1 sheriff’s star hood ornament with rhinestones (very pretty, lots of potential)
1 matching pattern fork and spoon (stainless steel)

To see photos of this interestesting trash assortment, check out our flickr photo page!