Nathan Welker, a Fisheries Biologist with the Allegheny National Forest has suggested bringing Mike Rowe and the “Dirty Jobs” crew to to 2012 Allegheny River Cleanup.

We think this is a great idea that would give Warren County some much-needed exposure, as well as shed some light on what a valuable resource we have here.

Below is Nathan Welker’s post from the Dirty Jobs Message Board. Be sure to add your own message to Mike and the “Dirty Jobs” crew, as well as share on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media.

————————————————————————————————–

We would like to invite Mike and the DIRTY JOBS crew to join us for the 2012 Allegheny River Cleanup. The 87-mile federally designated Wild & Scenic Allegheny River flows south from the US Army Corps Kinzua Dam through the Allegheny National Forest towards Pittsburgh, PA.

This years fourth annual event will be September 8-15, 2012.

In previous years we’ve used:

• SCUBA to dive for old tires and large trash items,
• FIRE TRUCKS to blast shopping carts out of the mud,
• CUTTING TORCHES and CHOP SAWS hauled by jet boats to cut up large items and remove them from remote locations,
• JET BOATS and CANOES to haul tons of filthy wet trash to boat launches, and
• DUMP TRUCKS and ROLL OFF DUMPSTERS to haul away the trash.

Each year hundreds of volunteers spend five days wading around in the mud and water to collect trash from our beautiful Wild & Scenic Allegheny River. Once the trash is collected it is then sorted for recycling by a small army of volunteers.

The 2011 cleanup yielded over 50 cubic yards of trash, plus 12,600 pounds of metal, and 237 tires. In addition, dozens of garbage bags full of glass, plastic, and aluminum were also recycled.

Items of interest included:

• 8-ft snowplow (approx. 600 lb)
• 1800’s barge anchor
• Metal staircase
• 4-ft x 10-ft wooden dock
• Dam WARNING high water sign
• Antique 4-leg washing machine
• 14-ft rubber kayak
• Swing set frame
• (2) bowling lane bench seats
• Push mowers (multiple)
• Shopping carts (multiple)
• Mattress springs (multiple)
• Wooden picnic tables (several)
• (2) 8-ft railroad ties
• (2) Cast-iron oil well pump jacks
• (2) 12-ft oil sorbent booms
• High voltage transformer unit
• Guttering and downspout unit
• 12-ft barn door track
• Commercial garbage can cover
• Municipal steel garbage can
• Televisions (multiple)
• Refrigerators (multiple)
• Kitchen sinks (multiple)
• Toilets (multiple and varied)
• Ice maker
• Water heater
• 55-gallon drums, plastic & steel (multiple)
• Antique brass fire extinguisher
• Highway sign
• Orange/white striped construction barrel
• Gas grill
• Wooden porch swing
• Dishwasher
• Vacuum cleaner
• Emerald ash borer beetle trap
• Rear tires/axle of riding mower
• Manual typewriter
• Carpets (multiple)
• Motorcycle helmet
• Trolling motor
• Cell phones
• Kid’s big wheel bikes, balls, and toys (multiple)
• ………… and the list goes on and on!!

To call the previous three Cleanups a success would be an understatement. The community’s support and enthusiasm has simply been amazing!!

Last year we had over 70 agencies/organizations that came together in support of the event. A total of 403 volunteers donated 3,224 hours while removing trash from 31 miles of the Allegheny River, 18 miles of Conewango Creek, and 5 miles of Brokenstraw Creek.

Partner organizations included:

• Allegheny Outfitters / Indian Waters Canoe & Kayak
• Boy Scouts of America
• Conewango Creek Watershed Association
• Conewango Kayak & Canoe
• DCNR Bureau of Forestry
• Experience, Inc.
• Friends of Allegheny Wilderness
• North Warren Volunteer Fire Department
• Kinzua Fish & Wildlife Association
• Northwest Savings Bank
• Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
• Pennsylvania Kinzua Pathways
• PNC Bank
• Tim Horton’s
• Trout Unlimited
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• US Forest Service
• Walmart
• Warren County Adult Probation & Parole
• Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry
• Warren County Conservation District
• Whirley DrinkWorks!
• Young Professionals of Warren County

….. and many ….. many more.

This annual event is a wonderful ‘Community Conservation Event’ that is sure to leave Mike and the Crew smiling, filthy, and wet. This is a TRUE dirty job. You want disgusting, we’ve got it. You’d be amazed at the things we pull out of the river.

If DIRTY JOBS would be kind enough to join us we can GUARANTEE they’ll have a great time ….. and ….. a wonderfully entertaining segment for the show.

Each year we end the weeklong event by having a “River Riot” celebration. This year’s shindig will take place the evening of Saturday, September 15, following the days cleanup activities.

Participants and their families are treated to free chicken barbeque, free adult and NA beverages, an excellent local band playing music from the 60’s and 70’s, and free camping in a US Forest Service campground for anyone who’d like to ‘sleep off their dinner’.

Planning for the 2012 Allegheny River Cleanup has already begun. The planning committee welcomes new volunteers and ideas. To get involved in the planning of the 2012 Allegheny River Cleanup, visit www.alleghenyrivercleanup.com and use the contact form to reach the organizers.

Please check us out and www.AlleghenyRiverCleanup.com and feel free to contact me with any comments or questions that you might have.

Thank you,

Nathan J. Welker
Fisheries Biologist / Administrator

Allegheny National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
4 Farm Colony Drive
Warren, Pennsylvania 16365
nwelker@fs.fed.us
(814) 728-6163
Fax: (814) 726-1465