The 22^nd Annual Clean Your Streams Day is next month – Saturday, September 22^nd!  The planning team is busy preparing for our big event and we need your help!  We are looking for individuals, organizations, groups, and businesses interested in sponsoring this community event. Sponsors enable us to ensure that we can have a successful cleanup and galvanize as many volunteers as possible to clean our local waterways.  Depending on the level of giving, your sponsorship will be recognized on our Clean Your Streams Day t-shirts, event posters, PCS website, Appreciation Picnic signage, and verbally by our MC during the event.  This is a special way to show your commitment to healthy waterways and a healthy community!  If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact our office at (419) 874-0727 for more information and a formal donor information sheet.  We appreciate your ongoing support of Clean Your Streams Day!

We are also looking for specific items that we will need to supply our volunteers during the cleanup.  Some of these supplies include: first aid kits with single-use antibiotic cream, antimicrobial wipes, band aids, ice packs, ace bandages, 2” Cohere-wrap, medical tape, gauze pads, poison ivy wipes, bee sting wipes, scissors, splint boards, and small hand sanitizer bottles.  Thankfully, we don’t often need to use the first aid kit, but we do need them on hand.  We are also in need of gift cards to stores, such as Kroger, Panera Bread, Walmart, Meijer, and Bigby’s to help supply breakfast for hundreds of volunteers.  If you are able to supply any of these items, please contact us so we can arrange pick up and thank you for your donation.

Of course, Clean Your Streams Day wouldn’t be as fun without the Appreciation Picnic!  Volunteers are eligible for door prizes, a paid raffle, a free lunch, and a participation t-shirt.  We would love to showcase your support for clean waterways through donated items. Specifically, we would appreciate ecologically-friendly items such as reusable water bottles, shopping bags, reusable lunch boxes, and more.  We are also looking for gift cards and certificates to local events, restaurants, stores, and activities.  Large items for the paid raffle (outdoor experiences, kayak, fishing gear, etc.) help us to fund our annual programs and keep doing more for our water resources. Show your appreciation for our streams, rivers, and lake at the Appreciation Picnic through a monetary or gift donation. 

Look for Clean Your Streams 22 registration to be open to the public in a few weeks.  We will be announcing it on our social media and website.  Like us on Facebook (Partners for Clean Streams and Maumee AOC), follow us on Twitter and Instagram (pcsmaumee) for updates, pictures, and everything CYS! Last year, our volunteers removed 23,789 pounds of debris from our local waterways.  With your help, we can tackle even more marine debris this year!

PCS is co-hosting three paddling events this month where you can get out on the water and help us get stuff out of the water.  For all events, canoes will be provided as well as supplies for the cleanup paddles.

• Canoe with Clean Streams through Wood County Parks
  • On Friday, August 10th from 6:30-8:30, we will be canoeing with our friends at Wood County Parks around Audobon Island.  Naturalists and PCS staff will be there to talk about the Maumee River, fish and wildlife, and marine debris. This program does require registration that can be done by clicking here.  We will meet at Orleans Park in Perrysburg by the boat launch. Make sure to join us on this evening paddle for your chance to explore the Mighty Maumee from the water!
• Missionary Island Cleanup: Canoe Adventure
  • On Sunday, August 19th from 1:30-3:30, Hop in a canoe and join Metroparks naturalists and Partners for Clean Streams staff in cleaning up the beautiful Missionary Island Wildlife Area. Enjoy a scenic paddle to the island, then help collect trash and debris that would otherwise wash into our Maumee River while also contributing to a citizens science project. All trash collected will be tracked and reported as part of the ACA’s Track Trash Program, which provides data to scientists working on tracking and battling marine debris pollution. We recommend you bring a change of clothes and a towel. Dress to get wet and wear synthetic clothing (nylon, spandex, or polyester, no cotton). Wear old tennis shoes, water shoes, or sandals with a heel strap (no flip flops). Bring water and sun protection. Please leave all valuables at home. We will provide all boats, life jackets and other gear.Participants must register for this event through Toledo Metroparks.  We will meet at the Farnsworth Park Boat Launch area prior to heading out to the island.
• Otsego Island Cleanup with Wood County Parks
  • On Saturday, August 25th from 9:00-12:00, we will partner with Wood County Parks District to facilitate a canoe cleanup at Hedges Island in Ostego Park.This is an excellent opportunity to explore the island and help protect it.  There is no cost for this program and registration can be done online.  Dress for the water and the weather!

Hope to see you on the water!

We have had a fantastic summer Get the Lead Out series.  Thanks to help from local scouts, Metroparks volunteers, Cornerstone church, Trout Unlimited, Toledo ZooTeens, and dedicated individuals, we have removed and recycled almost 8 pounds of lead and line from the Maumee River.   Join us for our 5th GLO on Wednesday, August 8th from 6-8pm.  With the water levels low this time of year, we will be able to get out to Blue Grass Island at Side Cut Metropark for this program. Volunteers should wear old, closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather.  All cleanup supplies will be provided by PCS.  Please meet in the Riverview Parking lot near the playground and we will go over safety and get started on our trek across the Maumee River. If you or your group is interested in participating this program, check out our website for information and liability forms.