2022 Special River Cleanup

WXYZ News Story

by Will M-Just this past weekend The Hot robotics team reached their 25th year cleaning the Huron River. We are very thankful to Alan Heavner for giving us this opportunity. This year we tried something new. We spread the team both downriver and upriver. By doing this we were able to clean all the way from Hubbell Pond to Moss Lake. In doing so we discovered significantly less garbage down river, where we have been cleaning in years past. The river was not always this nice though. Before Michigan’s 10 cent return on carbonated beverages was enacted, the river was in much worse condition. Since then, the river has been cleaner as each year passed. In order to improve this effect even more Alan Heavner, the president of the Heavner canoe rental company, has been pushing for a non carbonated beverage return law. A vast majority of trash found on the river are bottles from non carbonated drinks. If a law similar to the 10 cent return law was made for trash like this, there would be much less litter, not just in the river, but everywhere.

Over the 30 ish years that the Heavner canoe rental company has been running a river cleanup people have found a number of strange objects. People have found anything from shoes all the way to a car engine. Just this year people have found a full set of clothes, picnic benches, sunken canoes, cinder blocks. Some more notable finds of the past include a few washing machines, a dead pig, and an entire car engine. Although these may seem crazy and funny things to find, it is a major issue, and I don’t think I have to explain why.

With the recent chemical spill, people are afraid of going on the river. It is safe to say that the river is completely safe to canoe on. Because of the news and covid, Heavner canoe rentals have been down almost 70%. If you enjoy being on the water in a canoe or kayak with perfect days like these, I recommend you get out there. It is a great opportunity to hangout with loved ones, or even meet new people. 

I would quickly Like to thank Mrs Gleason. She is one of the mentors on the hot team, and has been organizing events for us for years. She has been organizing the river cleanups for 22 of the 25 years the HOT Team has been cleaning the Huron River, along with teaching the team.