Annual River / Lake Clean Up’s:
River Run Garbage Grab: Occurs early spring
Every spring after the snow melts but before the students leave, the City of Ames and Iowa State 
University cooperate on a city-wide effort to pick up the garbage revealed by the retreating drifts.
Contact: Skunk River Paddlers
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Iowa Project AWARE: A Watershed Awareness River Expedition: Occurs mid July
Jul 12-17, 2020: Iowa Project AWARE. River TBD
Iowa Project AWARE, the state’s premiere river cleanup & education event, sponsored by a partnership of nonprofit N-Compass Inc., the Iowa DNR, and the State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa. Their mission is to engage Iowans in cleaning up their rivers while learning more about the river’s water quality, biology, geology, and cultural history.
Watch for updates & registration at https://www.iowaprojectaware.org/home
Contacts:
Brian Soenen: Iowa Project AWARE Coordinator
brian@iowaprojectaware.org or (319) 538-6970
Lynette Seigley: Iowa Project AWARE Assistant
lynette@iowaprojectaware.org or (319) 351-9393
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Cedar River Festival Group: Occurs mid to late July.
“The mission of the Group is to educate the community about celebrating and preserving the beauty of the Cedar River as a local natural resource.”
The oldest river clean up in the state. The Cedar River near Waterloo /Cedar Falls is cleaned up annually. There is a fundraiser in February each year. The clean up is on a Saturday, mid to late July, along with a festival the next day, on Sunday.
Contact: http://www.crfgroup.org
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River Run Garbage Grab (R2G2) : Occurs mid August
River Run Garbage Grab is a city-wide event that allows volunteers the opportunity to remove trash from the Des Moines River or along its adjacent trails – paddlers, rowers, power boaters, walkers, hikers, bicyclers, mountain bikers, birders, etc. are all welcome!
Volunteers can choose from many land and water based locations. Polk County Conservation will be stationed at the Yellow Banks boat ramp along the Des Moines River.
Registration is required. For more information about this event, please contact Pat Spain at (515) 323-5280, or pat.spain@polkcountyiowa.gov
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Lower Wapsipinicon River Clean Up Project (LWRCP): Occurs mid August since 2006
A grassroots effort bringing together volunteers and sponsors to clean the Lower Wapsipinicon River and backwaters in an effort to make the public aware of this precious natural resource.
Contact: Melisa Jacobsen: http://lwrcp.org/
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George Wyth State Park Lake Clean up’s: Occurs in September
Chain of Lakes on Cedar Valley Paddlers Trail: Waterloo
Includes: George Wyth Lake, Alice Wyth Lake and Brinker Lake
Contact: Cedar Valley Paddlers: cedarvalleypaddlers@gmail.com
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Iowa River Clean Up: Occurs mid September
The Iowa River Clean Up Project is an annual event to help keep the Iowa River beautiful. Participants meet at the Sturgis Ferry Park and paddle to Hills Access (9.5 miles), along the way picking up trash and debris that has been discarded into the Iowa River. Volunteers on land help to sort and dispose of the debris properly. Volunteers are needed both on land and water.
Contact Carol Sweeting at 319-541-2385 or email carol-sweeting@iowa-city.or
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Upper Iowa River Clean Up: Occurs last Saturday of September
A section of need is chosen annually on the Upper Iowa in Northeast Iowa.
Contact: Chimney Rock Campground: 563-735-5786 or http://chimneyrocks.com
Please forward corrections or additions to iowawta@gmail.com