BLM and partners team up to clean up Clearwater River corridor
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LEWISTON, Idaho–For several years, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cottonwood Field Office has partnered with the Clearwater Management Council and the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy based in Pierce, to clean up trash and other debris left over from northern Idaho’s busy summer recreation season. The annual Clearwater River Cleanup Day event held this fall featured an all-female group of ChalleNGe Academy cadets lending a hand to help provide a better recreation experience along the river.
The energetic group of 16 young women partnered with BLM recreation staff, representatives from Idaho County Search and Rescue and other volunteers to improve the popular and heavily used five-mile stretch of the river from Cherry Lane to Gibbs Eddy. With assistance from current and retired BLM river rangers, volunteers worked from rafts to scour the river and shoreline to remove the unsightly trash and debris left behind.
“The annual river cleanup event is not only a volunteer event for the cadets, but also an opportunity to help them learn about recreation on BLM-managed public lands,” stated BLM Cottonwood Field Manager Richard White. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy into the future, as well as all of the partners who work with us to make a difference on the Clearwater River.”
The annual cleanup day event is supported by the BLM Cottonwood Field Office and the Clearwater Management Council, the multi-agency and multi-county group that cooperatively monitors and manages the environmental, social and recreational aspects of the river. The event was also one of thousands of National Public Lands Day volunteer events occurring across the country.
Volunteers enjoyed a barbecue following the cleanup effort, hosted by members of the Clearwater Management Council. In appreciation of the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy’s outstanding efforts and participation, Nez Perce County Commissioner Don Beck, representing the council, presented a $400 donation to the foundation, capping off a great day on the river.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.