INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — More than 300 volunteers in Indian River County joined another 600 in other Treasure Coast counties to clean the waterways of trash and debris ranging from cigarette butts and soda cans to car tires and even men’s underwear.
This year’s crop of trash and junk yanked from the coastline of the Indian River Lagoon and from the spoil islands topped an estimated 8.5 tons, according to Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup organizer April Price. She suspected that the haul this year would surpass last year’s given the larger number of volunteers involved this year.
Over the years, the cleanup has netted balls of fishing line and volleyball nets, patio furniture, and shoes – never a full pair. Last year, someone found a kitchen sink.
At the Riverside Park boat ramp, volunteers brought back a water depth marker, a bait bucket, a NY Yankees ball cap, and even a pair of men’s underwear, according to site coordinator Sally Mahan.
“That was the biggest kick,” she said of the underwear that was brought in. She added that many volunteers also found numerous flip flops – though none in her size.
When asked why the number of flip flops, Mahan guessed they came from people taking in the sun on the spoil islands.
“The tide comes in and the flip flops go out,” she said. “And we find them later.”
Among those who signed up at the Riverside boat ramp to participate in the annual cleanup were Central Beach resident Mike Lockwood and his friend and former island resident Claudia Rose.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” Lockwood said. “We enjoy the islands and want to keep them clean.”
They took out his 23-foot Contender named the “Nauti Lady” and brought along a small group of volunteers who were without a boat. They planned to hit one of the islands known for being part of a designated ski area – it’s one that Lookwood’s family has frequented over the years and is in need of cleaning up.
Others who participated in the cleanup included Janet and Robert Nolan, who live on the mainland but still wanted to help clean the waterway.
“We bike a lot and we see is trash everywhere,” Janet Nolan said. “I don’t understand why people can’t ‘take it in, pack it out.’”
Without a boat, the couple decided to walk over to the Riverhouse on the island and collect trash along the water’s edge there.
Volunteers ranged in age, including 7-year-old Russell O’Brien, who registered at the Riverside Park boat ramp with his parents, siblings and family friends – eight people in all.
“We don’t want the fish to die,” Russell said of why he wanted to get involved.
His dad, Hal Weliver, said that no matter where the family goes, if Russell spots a piece of trash, he snatches it up and tosses it in the trash can, where it belongs.
“We love the river,” Weliver said, adding that the family often spends time on the weekends out on the water. “We want it to be there for his (Russell’s) kids.”
The Vero Beach Power Squadron was also on hand for the cleanup –to participate in the cleanup itself as well as introduce the public to the organization.
“We believe in these kinds of things,” said Commander Bob Scully.
Many of the squadron’s members launched from the Wabasso area to help clean up that portion of the lagoon.
The squadron is open to anyone and everyone and focuses on boater education and community service.
This is the fifth year for the annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup, which is funded in part by a grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District and sponsors. In Indian River County, volunteers launched from Riverside and the Vero Beach Municipal Marina, at Wabasso, and in Sebastian.
In the prior four years, the event has collected approximately 38 tons of trash and debris, according to Price.
“We couldn’t do it without the support of our volunteers and the community,” she said.