News Release Archive

Earth Day Activity and Take Pride in America Event at Sycamore Island off Highway 41 on the San Joaquin River

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, jmccracken@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: April 20, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation along with RiverTree Volunteers announces a cleanup on Saturday, April 22, 2006, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sycamore Island, the San Joaquin River Conservancy's newest property for the San Joaquin River Parkway. The San Joaquin River Conservancy was created by the state Legislature to implement the San Joaquin River Parkway, a 22-mile regional greenspace and wildlife corridor in the river-bottom extending from Friant Dam to Highway 99, with an interconnected trail system and recreational and educational features. The Earth Day activity will improve the visual beauty of the San Joaquin River area near Highway 41 in Madera County. Volunteers will clean up debris, and tear down and remove a shed, an old bait shop, old pipelines, and an abandoned dock. As a part of the "Take Pride in America" Initiative, Reclamation is providing funding for a chemical toilet, trash dumpsters, and covering the disposal fees for all the trash and debris collected. For the structures to be removed, Krazan and Associates, Inc. and Bowen Engineering and Environmental are donating environmental compliance services. RiverTree Volunteers will provide trash bags, some tools, and gloves. Volunteers are encouraged to wear work clothes, shoes, gloves, hats, and bring hammers, shovels, water, and snacks.

The cleanup is a partnership among Reclamation's South-Central California Area Office, RiverTree Volunteers, San Joaquin River Conservancy, The Sierra Club Tehipite Chapter, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, East Fresno Rotary, Rotary Interact, Millerton Lake Watershed Coalition, the Central Unified School District Watershed Coordinator, Fresno City College Science Club, Future Farmers of America, Krazan and Associates, Inc., and Bowen Engineering and Environmental. Sycamore Island is currently closed to the public. Only volunteers actively engaged in the cleanup will be allowed on the site April 22. Volunteers will be helping prepare the property for the Conservancy to reopen it for public fishing later this season.

Location - Sycamore Island is located 3 miles from Children's Hospital Central California. Take Highway 41 and exit west onto Children's Hospital Boulevard (Avenue 9) and turn south on Road 40, follow the signs.

Want to volunteer? Volunteers need to register with one of the sponsoring organizations. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Richard Sloan, RiverTree Volunteers, at 559-696-2971 or you can visit the "Take Pride in America" website at http://www.takepride.gov/volunteer/resultsZ.cfm?states=CA.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Earth Day Activity and Take Pride in America Event at Sycamore Island off Highway 41 on the San Joaquin River