The Bureau of Reclamation's Yuma Area Office (YAO) and the Boy Scouts of America are looking for volunteers to participate in the 7th Annual Colorado River Sweep, a Take Pride in America clean-up activity. The event is a major cleanup effort of the Colorado River shoreline between the 4th Avenue Bridge and River Mile 33 on both the Arizona and California sides of the river.

Volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 6, at the Quechan Walking Park, adjacent to the river, for a release signing and briefing. Volunteers will then help clean the shorelines. Prizes will be awarded for the most unusual finds in the collection of trash when the event ends at Noon.

Safety is a primary concern. Participants are asked to come prepared wearing long sleeve shirts, pants, good footwear, and hats. They are also asked to wear work gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and inspect repellant. Water will be provided.

This event also serves as YAO's observance of National Public Lands Day (NPLD). Extreme outdoor heat during September deters and prevents holding the event on the traditional Public Lands Day. NPLD brings thousands of volunteers throughout America together to refurbish and restore the country's public places. These are lands and facilities used for recreation, education, and just plain enjoyment. They encompass national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, forests, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and reservoirs managed by federal government agencies, but belonging to, and enjoyed by, all Americans.

If you need more information or if you would like to be a volunteer, please contact Jack Simes, Reclamation, 928-343-8334 (jsimes@lc.usbr.gov), or Michael Vangelov, Boy Scouts of America, at 928-782-1896 (mvangelov@grandcanyonbsa.org).