The Peru Gazette

The Ausable River Association (AsRA), in partnership with the Kayak Shack of Plattsburgh, is hosting a Paddling River Clean-Up Saturday, August 27^th in Peru. The clean-up is open to all community members who want to restore and protect the beauty of the Ausable River. “Volunteers will immediately see the results of their hard work improving the health and beauty of the river, and they’ll enjoy a day paddling and floating downstream through a beautiful location,” says Kelley Tucker, Executive Director of AsRA.

AsRA will be working with the Kayak Shack at their Baggs’ Landing location to remove trash in and along the banks of the Ausable River from Carpenter’s Flats to the mouth at Lake Champlain. “This section of the river is very important ecologically because it enters and flows through the Ausable Marsh State Wildlife Management Area which is a conservation wetland. Wetlands are important sites that reduce flooding, maintain good water quality, and contain large amounts of biodiversity,” says Nicole Pionteck, AsRA’s River Steward.

A Belay Grant awarded by Columbia Sportswear to AsRA has made this program possible and has also supported AsRA’s paddling program and community riparian plantings. The Kayak Shack is providing canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards to participants and Casella Waste Management is donating a dumpster. The clean-up is part of a renewed effort at AsRA to further engage the community in protecting and restoring the Ausable River and its watershed.

The Ausable River faces many challenges including climate change, road salt, invasive species, undersized culverts, and bank erosion. Clean-up participants will be improving the health of the river, allowing it to better manage and survive these challenges.

The clean-up will begin at the Kayak Shack’s Baggs’ Landing location at 3009 US 9, Peru, NY at 10am. For more information visit the Ausable River Association website www.ausableriver.org.