By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – On the next Wabash Talks, Mike Beauchamp, President of the Wabash River Defenders, talks about the upcoming “Clean Out the Banks” event on July 30th starting at 8 am. Beauchamp told MiBash News that the river is far more of a vital resource in the county than many realize. He also mentioned that the river has seen a renaissance in the last decade or so as the water has become more clean.
The problem, however, is with all the junk that was dumped into the river for generations. Tires, he said, are a great example of how people would use the river as a dumping ground. The Wabash River Defenders have taken 1,600 tires out of the river just in Wabash County.
Beauchamp said that 200 to 400 people have participated in the Clean Out the Banks events in previous years. Individuals are encouraged to put a team together to help on July 30th. But Beauchamp said individuals without a team are perfectly welcome to do their part in making the river beautiful. But the Clean Out the Banks event isn’t just for those who want to get on the water with a canoe or a boat.
Beauchamp also said that members of the organization are working with the team developing the new Wabash River Trail which aims to build a trail next to the Wabash River from Huntington to Miami County. Phase one of the project is scheduled to break ground in Lagro in August. Members of the Wabash River Trail will have their own team cleaning up Basin Street in Lagro the day of the Clean Out the Banks event.
Those interested in getting involved should go to the Wabash River Defenders Facebook page or those with questions should call (260) 563-6726 or email info@wabashriverdefenders.org. To hear more from Mike Beauchamp and the Clean Out the Banks event, tune into Wabash Talks, this Sunday morning at 9:30 on 105.9 The Bash.