Photo Provided A FISHERMAN shows off his catch at the Pike Island Locks and Dam in Yorkville in this photo posted on the dam’s Facebook page.

YORKVILLE — Members of the Belmont County Soil and Water Conservation District are inviting people to enjoy nature and help keep it clean during an Ohio River Sweep event on May 15.

The Ohio River Sweep will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at the Pike Island Locks and Dam in Yorkville. Volunteers are asked to wear clothes that can get wet and dirty, along with closed-toe shoes. The district will provide people with bags and gloves. Those who register ahead of time will receive a free T-shirt; call 740-526-0027.

Becca Theaker, Captina Creek Watershed coordinator for the Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District, said the sweep usually collects several truckloads of trash. Volunteers have the opportunity to clean right up to the shoreline and near the fishing piers on site.

“The Ohio River Sweep is a program designed to enhance the beauty of the river by collecting litter from around the Yorkville locks and dam,” she said. “This location is popular among fisherman, birders, sightseers, families and more for outdoor recreation and we want to keep it that way.

“By picking up trash and debris from this location, we can help preserve nature and its beauty. Unwanted litter can lead to declined fish and macroinvertebrate populations, as well as nearby terrestrial community populations that exist within the riparian buffer.”

A riparian buffer is an area of vegetation next to a stream or river.

For those new to the sweep, Theaker said it is an enjoyable morning on the river. Each person doing a little work makes a big impact on the area.

“Sometimes volunteers find really interesting and cool items. Past participants have found things like kiddie pools, tires, fishing poles, and shoes,” she noted.

“Participants will get a free T-shirt for attending and be featured in our newsletter. Also, the event is scheduled for four hours but we are expected to be done before noon.”

Theaker added the Ohio River Sweep is organized by the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission, which is an “interstate water pollution agency for the Ohio River Valley, along with environmental protection and natural resource agencies from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.”

“Do your part by helping with this trash pick-up. … Help keep our rivers and streams clean,” she added.