The Kings River Cleanup
A history in pictures...
June 2017 Kings River Cleanup—Carroll County
On June 3rd the Kings River Watershed Partnership completed it's 24th river clean-up. A crew of 46 paddlers joined together to work sections of the Kings River from Rockhouse at the Carroll/Madison County line to the Romp Hole near the Missouri line. A total of 38 miles of river were cleaned!
This year there were 110 tires dragged from the river. Also recovered from the river were two large pick-up truck loads of garbage and 400 pounds. Some of the items that were recovered included paint cans, garbage cans, 2 BBQ pits, a half of a canoe and wagon wheel hoop. More pieces of mini-van than was left on the gravel bar when the river flooded a few years back came out and I guess we'll be digging parts of that out for years to come.
It takes a large effort from our whole community to get this work done. Be sure to thank our sponsor for their part. Also thank you to all of the paddlers, shuttle driver, kitchen crew, band members and property owners for your help.
Our cleanup crew
Earth Day River Cleanup—Madison County
Kings River Watershed Partnership had a successful Madison County clean-up in spite of cold rain and high river levels. Nine volunteers hit the land and participated in a trail clean-up at the Sweden Creek Falls Natural Area, County Road 3795 and a roadside illegal dump site along Hwy 21. The group recovered 7 tires, 2 mattresses and several bags of trash.
The Kings River Watershed Partnership is a non-profit, voluntary group of citizen stakeholders dedicated to preserving the water quality and beauty of the Kings River. This was our 23rd overall river cleanup!
KRWP Kings River cleanup
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
June 4, 2016 River Cleanup—Biggest One Yet!
On Saturday June 4th, 60 volunteers braved morning showers to participate in the 11th annual Kings River Carroll County cleanup sponsored by the Kings River Watershed Partnership. It turned out to be the best one yet. Participants divided up into five groups and picked up trash and debris from Rock House Access to the Romp Hole Access near the Missouri state line— 38.5 miles in total. The group hauled 116 more tires out of the river, bringing the 11 year total up to 1,038! They also removed two pickup loads of rubbish, a pickup load of metal, another refrigerator, a chemical toilet and a 55 gallon drum of tar.
Thanks to private landowners who allowed access to the river on their property. Also thanks to Carroll County Solid Waste Authority, Boy Scout Troop 67 from Eureka Springs, and the generous local businesses who sponsored the event and donated door prizes.
This was the twenty-second overall river cleanup held by the Kings River Watershed Partnership.
Sponsors
Thirty four businesses and organizations from Carroll County and Northwest Arkansas generously supported this year's river cleanup. Please support them and say thanks the next time you visit them!
- Carroll County Solid Waste Authority
- Kings River Outfitters
- Pack Rat Outdoor Center
- Ozark Mountain Trading Co
- Turner Bend Store
- Byrd's Outdoor Adventure
- Lost Valley Canoe and Lodging
- Buffalo River Canoes
- Riverview Resort and Country Store
- Crockett's Store and Canoe Rental
- The Beaver Dam Store
- The Gilbert General Store
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
- Blue Mountain Bakery and Deli
Berryville
- Ozark Cafe
- Horseshoe Grill
- Old Mexico
- Las Playitas
- Geraldi's
- Pizza Hut
- Good Times Pizza
- Main Street Theater
- KFC
- Country Rooster, Green Forest
- CH2M
Eureka Springs
- Fain's Herbacy
- Brews
- Nelson Leather
- It's A Small World
- Christopher's
- The Jewel Box
- Granny's Place
- Crescent Moon Beads
- Gazebo Books
- Wild Blue Yonder
Barbara will be exploring the beautiful scenery along the Kings River in her very own 9.5' Perception Kayak, courtesy of Packrat Outdoor Center of Fayetteville, which has generously donated this watercraft for the winner of 2016's raffle.
Madison County Spring 2016 River Cleanup
Our intrepid cleanup crews scoured the river from Marshall Ford to Rock House Access.
The Kings River Watershed Partnership Madison County river cleanup on April 16th was a great success. Special thanks to the sixteen paddlers participating and a member of the partnership who allowed access to the river.
Also a big thanks to Kings River Outfitters for their help with shuttles and to the Madison County Recycling Center.
Two groups recovered a total of 81 tires, 500 pounds of metal, and a large pickup load of trash.
This was the twenty-first river cleanup held by the Kings River Watershed Partnership.
KRWP River Cleanup—June 2015—Osage Creek
On Saturday, June 6, 2015, fifteen dedicated river cleaners turned up for the annual Carroll County portion of the Kings River Clean up, which had been postponed from the previous week due to high water. Longtime organizer Ray Warren made the call that the Kings was still flowing too fast to make it feasible to see or collect tires and difficult even for trash collecting, so instead, it was decided that the group would tackle a stretch of Osage Creek that feeds into the Kings and can be a source of some of the debris that makes its way into the larger river.
Butch Hanby permitted the 'Armada' participants to launch from his farm access. The group covered 11 miles, all the way to the confluence with the Kings River at the Hwy. 62 bridge. There was not as much recent-looking debris, a cause for celebration. However, heavy rains had sent a number of plastic feed bins into the creek, and there were several places where it appeared that people might be disposing of articles by pushing them over bluffs to land along the banks.
Aaron Thompson admires the Kings Armada's treasure trove hauled out of Osage Creek this year.
Several shattered TVs were found, along with a notebook computer, washing machine elements, battered aluminum cans, and many plastic bags. It was a long day of paddling and trash collecting, but the end result was a trailer so packed with tires, metal and plastic bins that the sacks of loose trash were consigned to the bed of a pickup truck.
At the cook out following the clean up, the group enjoyed live music and BBQ, and door prizes donated by area merchants. Gail Deweese won the kayak that was raffled off. Many thanks to all who came to take part in this 10th year of annual clean-ups, and to the members and merchants who also support the Kings River Watershed Partnership in monitoring and protecting this valuable shared resource.
A big thank you to all of participants and the 31 area sponsors for this event!
10th Annual Madison County Kings River Cleanup
On April 18, 2015, a small but dedicated band braved high water and rain to spend the day digging up tires, collecting debris, including a toilet, child's bike, a battered road sign, the drum from a cement mixer, corrugated metal panels, plastic tubing and several giant wads of baling twine in a rainbow of colors, and much more. They thank Jack McCullough for allowing them to park the trash trailer on his property, and to Madison County Solid Waste for taking the material for proper disposal.
A big thank you to the residents of Madison County. Each year the river is getting less trash and debris!
Carroll County River Cleanup—May 31, 2014
The Carroll County portion of the yearly Kings River Cleanup went off without a hitch. Nearly four dozen participants divided up into five groups and picked up trash and debris from Rock House Access to the Romp Hole Access near the Missouri state line -- 38 miles in total. Over all, less trash was collected than in previous years, indicating that people are beginning to recognize the importance of caring for this fabulous resource.
A large number of tires were collected however. Landowners sometimes use old tires to try and prevent or reduce erosion. During hard rains or flooding, these tires are washed into the river and along the shoreline. Between the two annual clean up efforts, a total of 121 tires were removed. This is only a few tires short of a record. Afterwards, the participants were treated to a picnic meal. music and door prizes generously donated by a number of sponsors, The kayak drawing was also held, and the winner was Nathan Bolerjack of Berryville.
A big THANK YOU to all who came out to help keep this river beautiful! Thank you for the continued help of the Carroll County Waste Authority and the Bluegrass Band, Southern Zephyr.
Special thanks to Scout Troop 67 lead by Scoutmaster Bruce Bieske, as well as to the local landowners who allowed us to store trash on their property until we could return to haul it off.
Thirty one businesses and organizations from Carroll County and Northwest Arkansas generously supported this year's river cleanup.
Madison County River Cleanup—April 26, 2014
Twenty three volunteers took part in the April 26th Madison County Kings River clean-up effort. Approximately 5-6 miles of river were covered from Marble Access to a private take out. More than 40 tires were retrieved, along with many bags of trash. Despite a cool, cloudy start and a few sprinkles, it turned out to be a great day to be out giving the river a spring cleaning!
View the event slideshow below:
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2013 Kings River Cleanup—Carroll County
Earth Day 2013 Cleanup—Madison County
The Madison County cleanup was another successful event for the Kings Armada. This year we were able to work 17 miles of the Kings River form Marshall Ford to Rockhouse Landing recovering 54 tires, a pick-up load of trash and 200 pounds of metal.
Two intrepid members of the Kings Armada wrangling a load. Thank you to the 15 local paddlers who braved the chilly start and a swift river. Also thank you to the private property owner for help with access to a difficult section of the river. Thanks to Michael Fitzpatrick and Kings River Outfitters for help with the long shuttles. Again as always thanks to Madison County Recycling for the big job of taking on those 54 tires.
Kings River Cleanup—June 2, 2012
Top left: Rock House Access after Memorial Day; Top right: Caring for the Kings River
Bottom left: Loading up trash trailer load—Claire Allison checks out the load; Bottom right: A hard day's work and a cleaner river!
Kings River Watershed Partnership's second clean-up of 2012 was a big success, in spite of water levels that were too low for paddling. This year's effort was to focus on public and private accesses, dump sites and favorite fishing holes. The items recovered included 35 tires, a lead acid battery, an old cook stove, several household appliances and 4.5 cubic yards trash. Thank you to the 34 volunteers. Some traveled from Fayetteville and Springdale. Many of them are regular participants including Boy Scout Troop 67.
Twenty-seven businesses and organizations from Berryville, Eureka Springs, Green Forest and Northwest Arkansas, donated resources that helped to make this event a big success. Please thank these folks for supporting the Kings River next time you see them:
SPONSORS
- Carroll County Solid Waste Authority
- Kings River Rapids LLC
- Uncle Sam's Safari Outfitters, Fayetteville
- Pack Rat Outdoors Center
- Ozark Mountain Trading Co.
- Lewis and Clark Outfitters, Springdale
- Hunnicut Animal Health
- Turner Bend Store, Ozark
- Steve's Septic Service
- Main Liquor
- Meek's Lumber
- Ozark Cafe
- KFC Berryville Liquor
- KTHS Radio Station
- Pizza Hut
- Good Times Pizza
- New Fitness
- Delphia Dreams
- The Daily Roast
- Granny's Place
- Caribe Restaurant
- Wild Blue Yonder
- Sparky's Restaurant
- Bubbas BBQ
- Kings River Adventures
- Kings River Outfitters
Spring 2012 River Cleanup—Madison County—Earth Day
Top left: A bounty of spring trash; Top right: Grey hauls it in
Bottom left: Trash or treasure? Bottom right: Kings armada strikes again!
Here's the report from Ray Warren:
"We had a really good clean-up Saturday. I think the cold start kept some away. We had eight paddlers instead of our usual 20. Thanks Lin, she wrangled a couple of friends visiting from Fla. We stopped for lunch at a scenic bluff and the property owner was there, who graciously offered to let us off- load what we had on his property and start after lunch with empty boats. We recovered 44 car tires, 6 truck tires, 2 agri tires, several bags of trash, some metal and a fuel tank that surprisingly still had some fuel (and sand)."
2011 River Cleanup
Left: 2011 Kings River Armada Right: What else? A water heater
Forty people participated in the summer 2011 cleanup in Carroll County. The total haul included 64 tires, 1 water heater, one-and-a-half canoes, 1 table saw, 2 televisions, a faceless Barbie, most of a picnic table, a porta potty door, a coil of cable, a football helmet ,and many bags of trash. The stretch of river covered from Rock House to Grandview. A good time was had by all.
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View event slideshow below
Spring 2010 River Cleanup
April 17th the Kings Armada with a crew of 19 paddlers and 16 boats, covered 11.3 miles of King's River in Madison County beginning at the Marble access and ending at Marshall Ford. We removed 20 tires of various sizes, 350 gallons of trash and 200 pounds of metal. Once again, thanks to Randy Hudson for allowing us to use his property to cut this long section in half. Also a special thanks to the folks at Madison County Recycling Center for help disposing of the trash.
June 4th the King's Armada with the help of over 50 paddlers and a couple of dozen boats, covered 38 miles of King's River in Carroll County. We removed 86 car tires, 7 tractor tires, 2 loader tires, an outhouse door, a child's merry go round, 5.3 yards of rubbish, a TV and a lead acid battery. Special thanks again to Twilla Tabor for helping organize the 1st ever cleanup from Stoney Point to the Romp Hole. Also special thanks to the Bluegrass band - Southern Zephyr, Eureka Springs Boy Scout Troop 67, Eureka Springs Time Bank, and 12 paddlers from the Ozark Society in Washington County. And once again special thanks go to Carroll County Solid Waste Authority for their ongoing help with our river cleanups.
Left: Boy Scout Troop 67, Eureka Springs; Center: Emily Johnson, 2010 Kayak Winner; Right: 2010 Spring Cleanup Group
View event slideshow below
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P.O. Box 961 | Berryville, AR 72616 | Phone: 870-480-8897 | Email: KRWP@kingsriverwatershed.org
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Last Update April 2023
