The Source to Sea Cleanup has provided a valuable service to the Connecticut River Valley since its 1997 inception. And it can provide receipts.

Nearly 40,000 volunteers have removed 1,100 tons of trash, almost 14,000 tires and 144,000 beverage containers in hopes of ensuring cleaner water and healthier habitats through the 410-mile watershed in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The annual event has long been held in conjunction with the Green River Cleanup, formed 21 years ago and a part of the larger Franklin County Rivers Cleanup, and this year’s collaborative effort is scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 28.

“Lots of enthusiasm is building for this year’s cleanup,” said Diana Chaplin, the Connecticut River Conservancy’s director of communications. “Not only is this a great way to make a positive impact for our rivers and habitats, it’s also a genuinely fun experience to gather with community members, share stories and work together for a shared goal.”

At least 80 groups have registered throughout the watershed this time around, and the nonprofit Connecticut River Conservancy had participation from at least 100 groups and 1,000 volunteers in 2023. Those numbers are expected to be exceeded this year.

Anyone who is interested can register for the Green River Cleanup at tinyurl.com/b6kwbaes. All Source to Sea Cleanup sites are available for viewing on a map at tinyurl.com/58b5nt26.

The cleanup is a family affair for some, including Erving resident Susan Sharbaugh and her granddaughter Gracie Rosenberg. Sharbaugh said she got involved at least 20 years ago because she is passionate about the health of the county’s rivers. She has made the cleanup an annual habit and invited Rosenberg about 10 years ago.

“She was very excited to help out,” Sharbaugh said, adding that she did not have to convince her granddaughter. “Her comment was, ‘Absolutely! I’ll be there to help.’”

Rosenberg, 20, said she jumped at the chance to volunteer alongside her grandmother and she immediately noticed the difference it made in the community.

“I get great satisfaction. I get to go out with a bunch of great people,” she said. “I enjoy it every year, I really do.”

The environment is a particular concern and passion for Rosenberg, who is studying biology at Greenfield Community College. She said she has pulled countless tires out of the watershed and once found a purse containing an ID that she gave to the police.

Last year, Sharbaugh, 81, said she and Rosenberg were assigned to clean up the area surrounding the former Railroad Salvage building in Turners Falls.

“It was a big job for my granddaughter and myself,” she recalled. “It took about three hours.”

Sharbaugh said she has found everything from coolers to chairs to sleeping bags.

Greenfield resident David Boles started the Green River Cleanup, now entering its 21st year and now averaging 250 to 300 volunteers. He was inspired when his son was part of an informal cleanup group of 10 GCC students organized by environmental science professor Brian Adams.

“There’s just an enormous amount of groups committed to keeping the watershed clean,” Boles said.

Boles grew up in upstate New York’s Niagara County, which he said had some of the most polluted water in the country. But he moved to Greenfield about 45 years ago and marveled at the area’s water quality.

“It made me want to stay here and [realize] how lucky we are, because this [quality] doesn’t exist in 90% of the rest of the country,” he said.

Boles mentioned the Green River consists of excellent water when it comes into north Greenfield, but it becomes heavily polluted by the time it discharges into the Deerfield River. He said Greenfield residents get 35% of their potable water from the Green River.

Green River Cleanup volunteers will meet up at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area on Nash’s Mill Road in Greenfield at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. Local schools and businesses will participate the day prior. Coffee, doughnuts, lunch and music by The Boys of the Landfill will be provided. There will also be beer tasting for adults and crafting activities for children.

Participants are encouraged to wear long pants, gloves and boots or sturdy shoes. They should also bring refillable water bottles and tick repellent. Trash bags will be provided but cleanup tools such as rakes, shovels, brooms, come-alongs and trucks might be helpful at certain project sites.

The food at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area is donated by area restaurants and other companies contribute equipment — such as trucks and backhoes — to help at project sites.

Boles mentioned volunteers have been known to find cars, couches, motorcycles, lawnmowers, propane tanks, old construction materials, asbestos, gas cans and containers of toxic oils. One time, a crate of kittens was found and Boles said each of the little felines got a forever home.

Boles has said special blue trash bags are available any time of the year at the Greenfield Department of Public Works at 189 Wells St., the John Zon Community Center at 35 Pleasant St. in Greenfield and the Greenfield Recreation Department offices at 20 Sanderson St. These can be used to collect litter around the greater Greenfield area to prevent it from winding up in the waterway to begin with. These bags are picked up for free without the need for a trash bag sticker. However, only litter that will fit in the blue bag will be picked up and no household items are allowed.

Beth Bazler, a senior land and compliance specialist for FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. who helps organize a cleanup focused on the Gill-Montague area, said some of the more heavily involved participants visit reported sites beforehand and it appears the nearly 30 years of hard work is paying off — because there is noticeably less trash to remove. She mentioned volunteers previously pulled a car out of the river in the Cabot Woods area of Turners Falls. People have also found Christmas trees, children’s toys and pieces of dock floats.

“This year, we’re finding a lot of clean sites, which is great,” she said.

Sites in need of attention can be reported via tinyurl.com/nhdv9npm.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.