The Broome County Environmental Management Council (EMC) invites stream captains, their crews, and community members to be watershed stewards by registering to take part in the 23rd ANNUAL BROOME COUNTY RIVERBANK CLEAN UP. The event is SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008, light rain or shine from 9 a.m. until 12 noon, at various locations along the Susquehanna, Chenango and Tioughnioga rivers and tributaries in Broome County. A rain date has been selected for Saturday, October 11. Pre-registration is required.

The EMC is a registered participant in the International River and Coastal Clean Up sponsored in New York State by the Northeast Chapter of the American Littoral Society and internationally by the Ocean Conservancy. According to Barbara Cohen, New York State Cleanup Coordinator, "The goal is to raise the public's consciousness about trash. The message is to help people understand that they play a major role in controlling shoreline pollution and that their responsibility is to educate others about human impacts on the environment". Clean up events are an important occasion for informing the public about the condition of the environment, and for bringing people together as stewards to improve environmental quality. Last year, 286 volunteers collected over 3.6 tons of litter and illegally dumped trash at 22 locations along Broome County waterways.

To register or to suggest a site for cleanup, please contact the EMC at 607.778.2116 or smerola@co.broome.ny.us. The registration deadline is extended to Wednesday, September 24th.

The EMC is Broome County government's citizen advisory board on environmental matters and a conduit for public participation in local government decisions affecting the County's environment. For more information about the EMC and the event, including last year's results, visit Broome County website at www.goBroomeCounty.com/emc