RiverCleanUp2000Text

Overview of 2001's Event

by Don Sawyer

A cleanup crew walks the Au Sable's main branch in search
their quarry: cans, shoes and other debris. Photo: D. Sawyer.

On September 8, 2001, the Anglers of the Au Sable held its seventh annual clean up of the Au Sable River even with threatening weather in the area. The food prep and set-up crews arrived Friday to news that the weather might be a major problem. Some folks had called Rusty to cancel so the worry factor was hard at work. The local forecast showed that there would likely be clearing Saturday so keeping the grills and cooks dry for the clean up lunch was the plan. Safety was the primary concern as nobody wants to be in the river with lightening in the skies. When the ten o'clock hour arrived Saturday morning, storm clouds were not to be found.

More than 200 volunteers were ready for work with Rusty's famous poking sticks and trash bags in hand. But before everybody would be released to his or her assigned section, Steve Sendek was given the Anglers of the Au Sable's highest award, The Riverkeeper. Steve is very deserving of this award having dedicated many years to the river system. As a fisheries biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, he has worked hard to make improvements that would never have happened without his guidance.

Left: Anglers president Rusty Gates (l.) congratulates DNR Fisheries Biologist Steve Sendek
as 2001 recipient of the Angler's annual conservation award, The Riverkeeper.
Right: Sendek with The Riverkeeper plaque. Photo: D. Sawyer.

Volunteers, divided into four- to eight-person teams, then put on their waders to walk more than 100 combined miles of river, filling bags with trash to be picked up by riverboats and canoes piloted by fly fishing guides and anglers. This year's clean up not only included the three branches of the Au Sable, but for the first time there were teams working the river between Mio Dam and Cummins Flats. On the Mainstream, crews walked ten different stretches from Burton's Landing to Camp Chicago. On the South Branch, sixteen sections were covered from Chase Bridge to the mouth and on the North Branch, seven stretches were cleaned from Dam 4 to Mac's Island.

Treasurer Pat Dwyer with some of the day's haul. Photo: D. Sawyer.

The Au Sable is enjoyed throughout the summer months by canoeists, tubers and fisherman. But debris such as bottles, cans, shoes, shorts, bathing suits, and other litter from overturned watercraft and careless visitors is an unfortunate consequence. As would be expected, the largest collection of debris was found below narrow runs where logjams trap misdirected canoes and other unguided watercraft. Toilets, sinks, small refrigerators, tires, and other junk were also removed from these waters. A seemingly unusual find was a note in an empty sealed wine bottle with a gold dollar coin taped to the bottom. Austin Andrus had signed the note asking the finder to send him a reply. Although Austin's address was not included, a call to father Bob who lives in the Grayling area provided the missing information along with the disappointment that the bottle only traveled about 2 miles. Maybe if Austin had placed the bottle in the river after the clean up, it might have made it to Mio, Oscoda, or who knows where.

Gates Au Sable Lodge guide Craig Perry (r.) surveys the
"catch" he and his partner collected from the wading crews.
Photo: D. Sawyer

Another unique find was a fourteen foot aluminum rowboat brought in by member Charles Chlysta of Ravenna, Ohio. This year's crews brought in a full eight yards of debris. This is up over 2 yards from the previous year. Giving the river a cleaning is one way to restore the pristine beauty of this precious resource. For crews and boat captains returning from the river, big burgers, fresh corn, potato salad, Gina Lyons' delicious cookies, and refreshments were available on the lawn outside the Lodge for the annual George A. Alexander Memorial Luncheon. Even the sun was shining at that point.

This annual event has become a very successful endeavor because concerned anglers have been willing to pitch in to haul out. Property owners along the river are also a huge part of the event, allowing access to the stream and guiding teams from point to point.

Local sponsors who provided their support were Waste Management, Central Michigan Lumber, Dubois Lumber, Sysco Food Service, Larry and Joan's Place, Fick and Son's, and Local Color Brewery of Novi. Please let them know you appreciate their support. Our thanks to Rusty and Julie Gates for providing the workspace at the Lodge, for all the work in making clean up crew assignments and to countless others who donated their time and money for a great cause.

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