Volunteers worked in teams to clean 45 miles of the river from Easton & Phillipsburg to Yardley on both the NJ & PA sides.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has declared the Delaware River, "THE RIVER OF THE YEAR" for 2002. We wish to honor this title with a beautiful clean river for this summer and the celebration activities that will be taking place on the Delaware River.

Dear Friends of Project River Bright:

The 5th Project River Bright cleanup of the Delaware River on Saturday, September 21st was successful once again. Approximately 230 people participated, some working on bank cleanups in addition to those participants on the water. This year's cleanup covered a stretch from Phillipsburg, NJ to Yardley, PA.

River Bright is a project of the Delaware River Greenway Partnership, Inc. Two canoe liveries Bucks County River Country and Phillipsburg River Outpost helped with the logistics of putting six teams of volunteers on the water.
The event was a real community project with volunteers coming all along the approximate 40 mile stretch. Most of the volunteers consisted of young people from regional high schools and environmental clubs, youth groups, such as: Palisades, Central Bucks East, William Tennett, Souderton, Pennridge, Easton, Hacketts Town, Kids Peace, and NJ Youth Corp.

The program involved the support of five counties: PA: North Hampton & Bucks Counties, NJ: Warren, Hunterdon & Mercer. Other volunteers included residents on the NJ & PA sides as well as employees from Merril Lynch.

Funding and support came from: The National Park Service, Rohm and Haas, League of Woman Voters of PA Education Fund, Environmental Endowment for New Jersey, Merck & Co. Inc., BFI Sent, and Waste Management.

In addition the following water rescue teams participated: PA Under Water Rescue, Garden State Underwater Recovery, Upper Black Eddy Fire House, Lambertville-New Hope Rescue Squad, and Titusville Fire Company.

Mostly tires were pulled from the river. All kinds of debris was removed, such as a washing machine, a toilet, a fire hose, a car seat & battery, two BBQ grills, & a 15 foot motor boat. Some items were a bit unusual, such as a set of false teeth, animal skulls, and two Santa Clauses. Another strange item was a message in a bottle. The bottle was sealed in wax and the message neatly tied. The finder of the message in the bottle was supposed to open it at the BBQ following the cleanup. However, he did not show. Many of the volunteers have made guesses as to what it said, like "Give peace a chance." So whoever has the message in the bottle, let us know!!

After the cleanup, participants had a choice of either attending an arts festival at Phillipsburg and Easton or having a BBQ at Upper Black Eddy. Entertainment included Jim Beer and Richard McLauglin, Ecoman on a stage donated by Bucks County Parks and Recreation. Food donations came mainly from local pizzerias.

Thank you all once again for your support to help beautify the Delaware River. Also included with the report are some comments by some of the volunteers and leaders.

Sincerely, Carrie Martin

Carrie Martin
Project River Bright
84 Ervin Rd.
Pipersville, PA 18947
215-766-7717

PROJECT RIVER BRIGHT
A project of the Delaware River Greenway

* Funding from the National Park Service

(TEAM 1)
ADOPTED BY:
- NJ Youth Corp
- Easton High School--SAVE
- Kid's Peace
- PA Under Water Rescue
- Phillipsburg River Outpost
FUNDED BY: Water Resources Education Center
TRASH DISPOSAL BY: Warren & North Hampton Counties

(TEAM 2)
ADOPTED BY:
- Pennridge High School--E.A.R.T.H
- Garden State Underwater Recovery
- Phillipsburg River Outpost
FUNDED BY: Water Resources Education Center
TRASH DISPOSAL BY: BFI, Warren & North Hampton Counties

(TEAM 3)
ADOPTED BY:
- Souderton High School--SAVE·Garden State Underwater Recovery
- Upper Black Eddy Fire House
- Bucks County River Country
FUNDED BY: Rohm & Haas
TRASH DISPOSAL BY: BFI, Hunterdon & Bucks Counties

(TEAM 4)
ADOPTED BY:
- William Tennent
- Palisades Middle & High School
- Garden State Underwater Recovery
- Bucks County River Country
FUNDED BY: Rohm & Haas
TRASH DISPOSAL BY: Bucks County & BFI

(TEAMS 5)
ADOPTED BY:
- Central Bucks East High School
- Boy Scouts
- Lambertville-New Hope Rescue Squad
FUNDED BY: Environmental Endowment for New Jersey
TRASH DISPOSAL BY: Hunterdon & Bucks Counties

(TEAM 6)
ADOPTED BY:
- Merril Lynch
- The Gnarly River Women
- Bucks County River Country
- Titusville Fire Company
FUNDED BY: Merck & Co. Inc. & Waste Management
TRASH DISPOSAL BY: Warren & Bucks Counties

Comments from River Bright volunteers and leaders:

Rob Castagna, a local resident, who owns the Chestnut Hill Bed and Breakfast right on the Delaware in Milford, NJ brought out his boat to help alleviate the canoeists from their loads. He has done some of his own independent cleanups and had this to say about the water quality of the river: "My wife and I moved here in 1982. I remember back then on a clear day, you could see a lot of trash on the river banks, especially tires. Every year it gets cleaner. Most of the stuff that was pulled off the river had been there a long time." He said that back then that the water quality was so poor that there were very few fish. Now we are seeing many signs that the river is improving. With the improved quality of water, not only are the fish more plentiful, but also the bird life has come back. Birds that were not found 20 years ago are now seen along this section of the river, such as; blue herons, osprey, eagles, king fishers, and mergansers, which is a diving duck that looks like a mallard. Two volunteers and I aboard the boat with Rob were fortunate enough to spot a bald eagle during the cleanup. Rob said that the eagle's presence is directly related to having a cleaner river. Rob said that, "The River is a treasure and that Education is the key."

Tom McBrien, long time resident of Upper Black Eddy, helped to organize one of the teams had this to say:

"The day went off without very well from Upper Black Eddy to Tinicum Park. It was a safe and well thought out river cleanup project. Approximately 35 people from our area participated. There were ideal conditions for the students and participants." Tom also mentioned that the cleanup is about "working together and spending time together in unity. Hopefully this annual event will grow with the students taking over the helm for future generations."

Carrie Martin, Project Director
I am now looking forward to the students and the community taking over the responsibility for the project. I will still be working on projects that relate to the Delaware River, but more directly related to the Lena'pe culture that once flourished along the banks. Not only does the river have the right to reclaim its inherent beauty and thrive, so do the original people of PA, and NJ, the Lena'pe, many of whom are now living in Oklahoma and long to return and reconnect with their homeland. So I know we will all be crossing paths again.

This past event was the 5th cleanup. As some of you know River Bright began after the major flood that occurred late in the winter of 1997. The flood washed huge amounts of debris down its corridor, then left a wake of debris along the banks and in the trees after the waters receded. I could not believe the tonnage of trash. Not long after the flood, I took a 3-day canoe trip, and I wanted the river to be beautiful. Yet it was a disaster zone. I could not ignore the trash, so I set out to help make a change.

And today, I still want the river to be beautiful. So I hope Project River Bright lives on. There are many organizations and individuals working to improve and protect the river, such as the Delaware River Greenway Partnership, the Delaware River Keepers, and The National Park Service, and countless residents. However, the river needs more caretakers.

The river is not just a resource or a study project. The river is a living entity. The river offers serenity, sanctuary, challenges, connects our hearts with the earth, and inspires dreams. The river has entranced a sundry of individuals, creating beauty for humanity, influencing poets, healers, artists, earth warriors, spiritual leaders, and visionaries. The river is a living force, a healer, a creator. The river is a journey, leaving lasting impressions on any soul who allows the force of the river to be apart of their life. The river is home. And the river will live on, well after we're gone.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Project River Bright is a grass roots student-run project under the auspices of the Delaware River Greenway Partnership, Inc. (DRGP) a bi-state public/private cooperative partnership. DRGP is working in cooperation with Students United for Nature (SUN), Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE), and E.A.R.T.H., the implementation of the program. With the use of canoes, approximately 300-400 students from area high schools and support from scuba divers, safety patrollers, boaters, as well as area residents clean the banks islands and the bottom of approximately 45 miles, within five counties. Student participation and leadership is a key component of the project. The program supports PA's Academic Standards for the environment and ecology under the heading "watershed & wetlands." The program is also designed to create greater awareness with area residents regarding the importance of maintaining the river's well-being. A project director oversees all aspects of the cleanup to ensure its success. In addition to the river cleanup, we have implemented a stewardship program, where not only schools but corporations & businesses can become stewards of the established six zones of the river.

STATEMENT OF NEED:

The Delaware River supports one of the country's largest concentrations of population and industry. Industry and recreational use create a great deal of debris and waste. Also after storms, an overwhelming amount of plastics, cans, bottles, tires, etc. wash up onto the shores and islands of the Delaware River. Plastics present a danger to wildlife. Thousands upon thousands of tires have also been dumped over the decades into the river. During a previous cleanup, students retrieved approximately 200 tires from Tinicum Island alone. The majority of the removed tires are recycled. Keeping the river free of waste is key in preserving its natural beauty and protecting wildlife habitat and is a responsibility that must be met in an organized fashion.

In addition, the river provides a perfect opportunity for high schools to meet their academic standards for environment and ecology. PRB supports the existing "Education & Outreach" of the National Wild and Scenic River System Lower Delaware River Management Plan in many aspects. To site a few points, the plan states: "The long-term success of this management plan is dependent on: environmentally aware children and young people who will provide the next generation of leadership and stewardship for the watershed. Implementation strategies include: The Delaware River Greenway Partnership should take the lead in implementing an education and outreach program, and all parties to this management plan will have roles to play in it. Local and regional school systems will be enlisted as major participants in the educational program - Instill in school children a sense of stewardship and pride in the Delaware Watershed.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
Removal of non-point sources of pollution to beautify the river and protect the natural habitat of fish and wildlife - Educate students through an action program - Empower students in taking on leadership roles and help them become aware that they are a valuable part of the community - Build relationships and establish partners between schools, communities, businesses and river-related organizations and agencies - Create a growing sense of appreciation and community pride for the river - Highlight the significance of the Wild & Scenic Designation - Expand the project and make it a model of success for other rivers - Educate students in watershed policy.

Contacts:

Carrie Martin
84 Ervin Road
Pipersville, PA 18947
215-766-7717
Email: cdreamer@voicenet.com

Mary Ann Kobble
Phillipsburg River Outpost
4 Union Square
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
Ph: (908) 213-9100
kobble@bellatlantic.net
www.phillipsburgriverfun.com