The Androscoggin Land Trust (ALT) is excited to announce a partnership with Lewiston’s Baxter Brewing and Adventure Bound rafting of Caratunk, Maine to offer a major water-based clean-up effort for the Androscoggin River and its banks in Downtown Lewiston-Auburn on Sunday, June 17.

While regular volunteer efforts occur to clean the parks and trails dotting the banks of the river in Downtown L-A, this new initiative seeks to collect trash and debris that detracts from the stunning beauty of the river itself and its shoreline.

Knowing that that many hands make light work, but that much work is to be done, ALT has secured support from Adventure Bound to bring 10 whitewater rafts to assist in this effort. Volunteers will be assigned to the rafts and will take to the river in groups.

Volunteer check-in and orientation will begin at 9 a.m. at Little Andy Park, Second Street, Auburn. The event will run until 1 p.m.

With growing interest in the riverfront in Lewiston-Auburn, including the Riverfront Island Master Planning effort and the ALT led Androscoggin Greenway project, the view of our community from the river itself needs attention.

“After a scouting trip on the Androscoggin as recently as two weeks ago, it was clear that volunteers would be kept busy during this event,” said ALT Executive Director Jonathan LaBonté. “But with the recent flooding, even more debris is likely to have collected on our riverbanks and help from the community will be needed even more.”

The event is planned as an official launch to the summer river recreation season in Lewiston-Auburn with the clean-up to be followed by a celebration and outdoor BBQ at Fire House Grille in Auburn.   Numerous corporate partners have stepped up, in addition to the leadership role of Baxter Brewing, to make this event possible.

Adventure Bound is donating its rafts and the time of guides, Fire House Grille is assisting with staff volunteers and as host of the BBQ celebration, the local ServiceMaster is sponsoring a free lunch to the first 100 volunteers to register and Shad’s will also make volunteer T-shirts available to those first 100.

“The Androscoggin Rivers is the most prominent and most vital natural resource in our community,” said Baxter Brewing founder and President Luke Livingston. “Protecting it—keeping it clean—is of the utmost importance and we at Baxter are excited to be able to join some great companies and community leaders for a day of spring cleaning we hope becomes a tradition for years to come.”

If you wish to join the effort, please note that there is limited room on the 10 rafts, so volunteers are urged to register early. There are numerous other opportunities to assist, including joining a team assigned to walking the shoreline or even bringing your own canoe to paddle along with the raft teams.

To learn more or to register for the clean-up, please call ALT at 782-2302 or e-mail info@androscogginlandtrust.org.