PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Volunteers are needed to help clean up the west branch of the Housatonic River with Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) at their final river cleanup of 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 AM to noon. 

 

After the cleanup, volunteers will be provided a complimentary lunch. Volunteers must RSVP in advance to reserve a free lunch. 

 

Participants should meet at Westside Riverway Park, 181 Dewey Ave, Pittsfield, at 9 AM on Aug. 10. Cleanup teams will disperse to nearby locations, gathering miscellaneous trash from the river banks and bottom. Canoes will be used to transport the trash. BEAT will also conduct a trash inventory of everything collected, and they welcome volunteers who want to help without entering the river to assist in data collection. Old clothes, a hat, sunscreen, old sneakers or waterproof boots/waders, a full water bottle, and sunglasses are recommended. In the event of pouring rain or lightning, the cleanup will be canceled. 

 

According to a press release, cleanups make a considerable difference in the health of the Housatonic River. Since beginning annual cleanups, BEAT and HVA's efforts have made a noticeable difference, with the piles of trash getting smaller. 

 

Just this summer, BEAT and HVA have removed fifteen shopping carts that were submerged in the Housatonic River, five bikes, sixteen contractor bags worth of miscellaneous trash, HUNDREDS of plastic and glass bottles, twelve tires, several phones, numerous types of textiles.

 

Register at www.tinyurl.com/Housatonic-River-Cleanups-2024. For more information, visit thebeatnews.org or call (413) 464-9402.

 

West Branch Housatonic River Cleanups are organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) and co-sponsored by Blue Q, Panera, and the City of Pittsfield.