Get the Lead Out (GLO) is a PCS-led program designed to help volunteers remove discarded fishing line, lead lures, and other types of trash that gets left behind after the spring fishing runs in the Maumee River. These materials can entangle fish and wildlife, injure people (think sharp fishing hooks), and detract from the natural beauty of the River. GLO is great for groups interested in getting outside and improving the health of the Maumee River at the same time! Time spent at these events can also be used to satisfy community service hour requirements. Over the course of our 2018 GLO events, 198 volunteers cleaned 3.5 river miles, removing 28.2 lbs of lead and lures and 445 lbs of trash!

Unfortunately, due to extremely high water levels this year, no GLO events have been scheduled. Because the material we seek to remove during these events is typically found wrapped in tree roots and branches and entangled in other types of shoreline debris, low water conditions are preferred during these efforts. Any events this year will depend on local water levels going down substantially. Please watch the calendar on our website and our social media outlets for future event dates.

Our Clean Your Streams Planning Team has officially set the date for the 23nd Annual Clean Your Streams Day! CYS 23 will be held on Saturday, September 21st this year. If you are interested in sponsoring or donating to this event, please contact our office at (419) 874-0727. Volunteer registration will be live in August, so check back in with us later this summer for more information. You can also view pictures and statistics from previous years’ Clean Your Streams Days on our website!

TMACOG’s Canoemobile was a great success! The event took place over three days (June 26th - June 28th), and provided 140 youth in our community a chance to experience the Maumee River while participating in a variety of environmental education programming. At the event, students explored various stretches of the Maumee River while riding in Wilderness Inquiry's “floating classrooms”, a.k.a. several 24-foot-long canoes. For some youth, this was their first time paddling a canoe, and their excitement after the paddle was clear!

Partners for Clean Streams was on-site each day to provide information to the students regarding types, sources, and effects of debris (trash) in the water. We also distributed materials to the students to encourage the use of reusable items (e.g., metal straws and cotton tote bags). Two students that participated in the events had this to say; “I liked canoeing and learned why we should try to keep the water clean.” and “We need to keep the water clean (free of trash) so that animals and people can enjoy it without getting hurt.”. We hope that this experience helps area students get excited about their local waters and keeping them clean!

On Saturday, June 29th, the event was wrapped up with the community-wide Canoemobile Watershed Festival at the Broadway Street Boat Launch. The Festival included a chance for people of all ages to ride in the Wilderness Inquiry canoes, learn more about their watershed from PCS and other partners, and enjoy lunch! Thank you to all those that came out and participated in this event!