Locals host Chipola River clean up

JACKSON COUNTY, FL– Volunteers will be traveling up and down the Chipola River on Saturday, picking up trash.

“We have people coming down Spring Creek. We have people coming down from Yancey Bridge going South. And we have people putting in at Magnolia going North, and we’re just kind of coming to meet in the middle. And we will host everybody at our river a lot when we get through and have a covered dish for everybody,” says organizer Danny Melvin.

Spring Creek and the portion of the Chipola River up to Magnoila Bridge attract tourists from all over.

Many people want to do whatever they can to keep this natural wonder clean.

Melvin says, “Spring Creek looks very good right now cause it’s easier to clean up than the river. The river has deeper spots in it. It does have some shoal rocks and stuff that’s fairly easy to clean up. But once you get in the river, a lot of that gets real deep and you can’t see it till you get down there with your diving equipment on.” 

Locals obviously don’t mind the tourists visiting. But they want to remind everyone to pick up after themselves so the wonderful natural resource can remain clean for everyone to enjoy.

Chipola River Adventures will also be offering free rentals and food to those looking to help with cleanup efforts on Saturday. 

But even if you don’t have a boat, you’re still encouraged to volunteer for Saturday’s clean-up.

“You don’t have to have a boat to participate. There’s plenty of trash that’s in the woods around the trash cans. Those are really hot spots out there because your animals are getting into your cans and taking the trash out of the cans and get it in the woods. And when you have high water times, which we don’t right now, but it’s coming, when high water time all that trash in the woods goes down into the water,” says Melvin. 

Organizers try to plan two clean-ups a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.