Come celebrate the 20th anniversary of River Sweep! More than 7,500 volunteers have removed over 200 tons of solid waste from DuPage County streams since 1991, as part of River Sweep, an annual event organized by The Conservation Foundation. The Conservation Foundation is a nonprofit land and watershed protection organization, dedicated to preserving open space and natural lands, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of the environment in northeast Illinois.
In Lisle, the Village of Lisle is acting as area coordinator for the 2011 event, with the assistance of the Lisle Park District and Al Zubenko of Lisle. Volunteers are being sought to clean portions of the East Branch of the DuPage River and Rott Creek in Community Park and Hitchcock Woods in Lisle.
Lisle volunteers are needed this year for River Sweep on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Volunteers are asked to meet at the picnic shelter located just east of the Lisle Park District Community Center at 1825 Short Street, just off the east Sea Lion Park parking lot.
Work assignments will include picking up litter and debris in and near the streams. Volunteers may bring a canoe or kayak if available, or waders. This year, there will also be a restoration project in Hitchcock Woods led by Al Zubenko, to remove buckthorn, garlic mustard, and other invasive plants in the woods around Rott Creek.
“The East Branch of the DuPage River and Rott Creek are two streams that run through the heart
of Lisle, through our public places. The cleanup efforts by community volunteers make a big difference for these streams. It’s a great family activity, and it only takes a few hours of time”, said Mary Lou Kalsted, the Village of Lisle’s area coordinator for the event.

The Conservation Foundation will provide bottled water and a small snack to volunteers. Volunteers are urged to bring clothes appropriate for the day's weather, sunscreen, and work gloves if available. Advance registration at www.theconservationfoundation.org is needed so that adequate supplies are available.
For more information about the Lisle portion of the event, contact Mary Lou Kalsted at the Village of Lisle at 630-271-4107.