June 17-Androscoggin River Cleanup

June 17, 2012

Lewiston-Auburn Riverfront to Be Focus of June 17th Water-based Clean-up Project

Androscoggin Land Trust and Baxter Brewing partner to bring whitewater rafts to LA for major project.

 To learn more or to register please call ALT at 782-2302 or email us at info@androscogginlandtrust.org 

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 17th.

While regular volunteer efforts occur to clean the parks and trails dotting the banks of the river in downtown LA, 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.  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.  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,” states ALT executive director Jonathan LaBonte

The event is planned as an official launch to the summer river recreation season in Lewiston-Auburn with the clean up set to be followed by a celebration and outdoor BBQ at Fire House Grille in Auburn.   Numerous corporate partners have stepped up, in addition to 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. 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,” states Baxter Brewing founder and President Luke Livingston.

If you wish to join the effort, we wish to 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 207-782-2302 or e-mail us at info@androscogginlandtrust.org

WHEN AND WHERE: Sunday June 17th
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Volunteer Check-in and orientation will begin at 9 AM)
Little Andy Park, Second Street, Auburn (Volunteers will be dispatched from here to boats/shoreline locations  

Located in the Civil War-era Bates Mill Complex in Lewiston, Maine, Baxter was the first brewery in the country to brew more than 5,000 barrels of beer in their first year of operation and was named the 2011 “New Brewery of the Year” by BevNet Magazine. They are also the first brewery in New England to package 100% of its beer solely in metal containers (aluminum cans and stainless steel kegs). The brewery also offsets 100% of its electrical usage every year with EPA-backed wind power credits.  Baxter Brewing varieties are distributed in Maine by Nappi Distributors and Pine State Distributors; and in Massachusetts by the affiliates of the Massachusetts Beverage Alliance.

The Androscoggin Land Trust is a membership supported organization dedicated to protecting, through land conservation and stewardship, important natural areas, traditional landscapes and outdoor experiences in the Androscoggin River watershed.  ALT offers recreational programs in the region include LA Trails, serving Lewiston-Auburn, Chisholm Trails, serving Jay and Livermore Falls, and the Great Falls Paddling Society, offering seasonal outings on the Androscoggin River.