Volunteers Needed for 35th Annual Salt River Clean-up Mesa Ranger District, Sat. Feb. 21

Release Date: Feb 18, 2015

Mesa, Ariz., February 12, 2015  Every year millions of visitors come to the Tonto National Forest to enjoy a variety of recreation activities. The Salt River is one of the areas heavily utilized each spring and summer. When the water level is low, evidence of this activity is visible. To help restore the Lower Salt River to a cleaner and more enjoyable state, Friends of the Tonto National Forest, in cooperation with the Mesa Ranger District, are hosting the 35th annual Lower Salt River clean-up on Saturday, February 21, 8 am – noon.

“We are excited to have a new partner, Friends of the Tonto, becoming involved in efforts to clean up this area,” said Mesa District Ranger Gary Hanna. “Art Wirtz, President of Friends of the Tonto added, “We invite volunteers to help us clean up trash that is normally inaccessible due to higher waters other times of the year, as well as learn about management of natural resources in this area, and how the Lower Salt River affects the entire Valley of the Sun. Conservation groups and natural resource agencies will participate in the event by setting up booths and sharing information."

The majority of the clean-up will take place in the river bed near water, so participants must wear closed-toe, rubber soled shoes that can be worn in rocky terrain. Volunteers are encouraged to wear sunscreen, hats, gloves and to bring drinking water.  Tonto daily passes are not required for participation in this event, and trash bags will be provided.

Registration for the event will take place online at http://www.friendsofthetonto.org, or at the event. Volunteers will meet at the Pebble Beach Recreation Site just east of the Blue Point Bridge at 8:00 a.m for sign-in.  The clean-up will continue until about noon.

Salt River Project, Albertson’s, Kalil Bottling Company, and the Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch are sponsoring this event. For more information about the event go to www.friendsofthetonto.org or send an email to friendsoftontonf@gmail.com.