When sending 255 volunteers out to cleanup over 50 miles of the Russian River watershed, it doesn't hurt to start the day with a positive outlook. This is exactly what Robert Clemens, event chair of the 20th annual Russian River Watershed Cleanup, did under gray skies the morning of September 22, 2007. At the Healdsburg Park and Ride lot, Clemens hopped onto the back of a vehicle and addressed the crowd of volunteers waiting to cleanup the river. With the forecast predicting a 70% chance of rain, Clemens stated he took that to mean "a 30% chance of sun." This optimistic prediction was met with applause from the eager crowd filled with many first-time participants. There were also plenty of returning volunteers, including some who indicated they have participated every year since the very first cleanup.

The Russian River Cleanup began as an event put on by the Sequoia Paddling Club (SPC), now a section of the Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club. Tom Meldau, founder and current chairperson of SPC, organized the first Russian River Cleanup in 1988. As recounted by Meldau, "On a Saturday in November, proclaimed as Russian River Clean Up Day by the Healdsburg City Council, an eclectic group of forty volunteers in canoes provided by Trowbridge Recreation pitched in to reduce the manmade debris between Alexander Valley and Healdsburg. The purpose was to demonstrate that it was not paddlers who were responsible for the litter left on this highly used section of the river." A club newsletter reported "at least one dozen auto tires, lots of disposable diapers and beer bottles made up the bulk of the river refuse." In a post-cleanup meeting it was concluded "numerous babies must have come floating down the river on the tires drinking beer this past summer."

According to Meldau, "the following year the cleanup was moved to October and the 21st was officially designated by the County Board of Supervisors and the City of Healdsburg as 'Russian River Cleanup Day.' Sixty-five or more volunteers, with Trowbridge canoes awaiting and dumpsters provided by Empire Waste Management, were ready to scour from Alexander Valley to Healdsburg ... but pouring rain forced a cancellation." However, as noted by Meldau, "Enthusiasm for the cleanup was not dampened and through the efforts of Debbie Fudge, PG&E also became an important participant in future cleanups."

By 1993 the event was moved to September and covered the river from Asti to Guerneville. Meldau recalls in that year's November issue of the club's newsletter he reported "in expanding our efforts below Wohler Bridge this year, a startling discovery was made of the deplorable condition of the area known as Steelhead Beach." Meldau said he then "began a campaign to get it cleaned up, and on January 8th a huge community effort supported by the County of Sonoma, culminated in an abandoned bus, several vehicles, six twenty yard dumpsters of trash and over 400 tires being removed before the winter floods came. This area, of course, is now a jewel of our county park system."

"In 2000," Meldau reports, "it was decided the Sequoia Paddling Club would continue to support and be a participant of the river cleanup, but the event would became an independent entity. Bob Clemens, involved from the very first cleanup, stepped forward to take over the reigns of what was to be the Russian River Watershed Cleanup."

In this year's 20th anniversary of the event, a small amount of rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm or results as groups of volunteers covered sections of the river from Cloverdale to Monte Rio. Volunteers were supplied with gloves and trash bags made possible by the event's sponsors. In addition to the efforts of event organizers who start to work on the cleanup in May, the Russian River Watershed Cleanup receives support from Sonoma County Water Agency, Brelje & Race Consulting Engineers, P.G.& E., State Coastal Conservancy, Sequoia Paddlers Section of the Sierra Club, SOAR Inflatables, Burke's Canoes, Rivers Edge Kayak and Canoe, Empire Waste Management, Sunrise Garbage Service, Garbage Reincarnation, Integrated Waste Division of Sonoma County, Guerneville Graphics and Printing, Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, West Sonoma County Disposal Services, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Marine Division, and Sonoma County Youth Probation. Forestville Fire Department sent firefighter Eric Gromala, who piloted a Sea-Doo that towed a happy but tired group of paddlers into the Wohler boat ramp, their inflatable canoes heavy with the day's haul.

On Sunday September 23 the event culminated at Healdsburg's Memorial Beach with volunteers, largely students from Healdsburg High School, sorting the trash collected the day before. As reported by Sarah Yardley, this year's event collected 8 cubic yards of single stream recycling material, 90 tires, 60 cubic yards of trash filling two debris boxes, and one debris box filled with appliances - including three televisions. With all of these items (including the complete front end of a car, three complete back ends, and six gallons of motor oil) to be recycled or disposed of at a landfill and not going into the Pacific Ocean, it was clearly another year of success for the event.

Chairperson Clemens notes, "though there seems to be a decline in recreational trash, which is a positive sign, unfortunately there is an increase in residential and industrial debris, as indicated by the remains of a complete kitchen remodel. Until such time that an economic solution can be available to the public for disposal of such items, we will continue to need to have cleanup projects in the river and its tributaries." Thanks to Tom Meldau and Bob Clemens for their contributions to this piece.