"ORSANCO has created a unique program that protects the health, safety and welfare of Ohioans and all who live in the Ohio River Valley.  River Sweep cleans our shorelines, improves water quality, educates people of the importance of the river, keeps our Ohio River Scenic Byways beautiful, enhances tourism in the valley, promotes community involvement and spirit, preserves the unique scenic resource that we all are stewards of, the Ohio River.  River Sweep is truly a Great American Story,” said Gary Meisner, Chairman, Scenic Ohio.

 

ORSANCO began this program in 1989 as a pilot project working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Kentucky Environmental Protection Cabinet – Division of Water.  Initially this consisted of a 150-mile shoreline clean-up from Cincinnati to Ashland, Kentucky with 1,000 volunteers. Today the River Sweep is one of the largest environmental clean-ups of its kind in the United States.  In 2008 more that 22,000 volunteers participated in cleaning up more that 3,000 miles of the Ohio River and its major tributaries.

 

“This project is such a great event,” said Jeanne Ison, project director.  “It brings together members of the environmental community, industries and government.  We have been very fortunate to have so many people volunteer their time, and we have had such great support from corporate sponsors.”

 

ORSANCO grew out of river clean-up efforts in Cincinnati in 1934.  Congress authorized the formation of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Compact in 1936.  In 1948 the compact became law and ORSANCO was born with Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia signing the Compact.  River Sweep is a six-state program of ORSANCO.