Volunteers can do their part to rid the Stanislaus River of trash on Saturday, Sept. 20.

From 9 a.m. to noon by assisting the South San Joaquin Irrigation District in cleaning up along the river and banks.

“SSJID has graciously offered to sponsor and facilitate this cleanup project,” said City of Ripon Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart.

The City will provide dumpsters and has agreed to pick up the assembled garbage at various points along the river, which, according to SSJID General Manager Jeff Shields, will be designated by flags at specific beaches along the route.

“We want to encourage some in-river participation as much of the garbage is actually in the river or along the banks in areas not accessible from the land,” said Shields.

By then, he added, the Stanislaus River should be at a record-low flow and volunteers will be able to walk the entire the length of the cleanup.

Those interested in helping out can meet at the registration site located at the Bike Bridge access to the Stanislaus River along Highway 99 in Ripon.

Participants, whether on land or by river, Shields said, would work their way from there, going along the river to the access parking area adjacent to the Jack Tone Golf Course.

At that point, SSJID will have food and drinks available for all registered participants.

For more information, contact Mary Shields, who is SSJID’s local coordinator for the Ripon segment, at 209.599.3641.