The Friends of the North Fork of the White River and Bryant Creek, along with four outfitters, are inviting the public Sunday from 9:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon to the North Fork River to help clean up debris left from the April 29th flood. According to event coordinators, Tim and Sandy Johnson of West Plains, the cleanup will be from Blair Bridge to Dawt Mill and the participating outfitters will offer discounts on canoe and kayak rentals. The area between Blair Bridge and Patrick Bridge still has a large amount of man-made debris.
Tim Johnson says the cleanup is important because debris from flooding makes it’s way into Lake Norfork. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Operations Manager Mark Case says a historically unprecedented amount of woody debris and household items have been washed into the lake. Johnson says a Memorial Day cleanup was highly successful, with a large turnout that filled up four dumpsters, but there’s still more work to do.
Johnson knows first hand the impact the flood has had. He recently purchased a house on the river and spent just one night in it, before it was washed away. He says even though he’s lost his house he will not give up on the area he loves. He’s been visiting since the 1960’s and wants to do everything he can to get the river clean.
Pettit’s Canoe Rental, Sunburst Ranch, River of Life Farm and Dawt Mill will be participating in the event and will offer discounts of $30 for a canoe or $20 for a kayak. Due to the limited public access they ask all private boat owners to take advantage of the discounted rates and the outfitters will portage everyone back to their vehicles afterward. Participants will no only benefit the river, they will also help out these outfitters who have been hit especially hard due to the flooding.
Netted trash bags will be handed out for smaller items. For larger items Johnson says people can leave them on a bank where larger boats can eventually come up river to remove them. Dumpsters will be located at Patrick Bridge and Sunburst Ranch.
After the cleanup, an event is planned at Pettits Canoe Rental and all participants will have a chance to win various door prizes.
Employees with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Transportation and Missouri State Highway Patrol Water Division have been working and making progress to remove log jams in the river and to clear riverside access areas.
Reservations can be made by calling one of the outfitters and ask them to reserve a canoe or kayak for the 2017 River Cleanup.
Sunburst Ranch 417-284-3443
Pettit Canoe Rental 417-284-3290
Dawt Mill 417-284-3540
River of Life Farm 417-261-7777
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