PARC to host Earth Day American River cleanup on April 18

Join the Auburn State Recreation Area (SRA) staff, Protect American River Canyons, the Canyon Keepers and your river-canyon friends for our annual Spring River Cleanup on Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. to noon. Invasive highly flammable scotch broom plant removal is the theme this spring. The City of Auburn Transit Bus will transport volunteers from the Confluence Kiosk to nearby trailheads. Participants will hike back to the Confluence while cutting back scotch broom plants and picking up trash along the trails. Meet at the Confluence Kiosk near the Highway 49 river crossing to sign in to receive your supplies, snacks and a free Auburn SRA trails map for the first 25 volunteers. There will be a Canyon Keeper-led historical bridges and river ecology hike beginning at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers will learn about river history and ecology while removing scotch broom and picking up trash. The Auburn Alehouse will provide a sack lunch at noon. High School Essay contest winners will read their winning essays and do not miss the interpretive table that features replica skulls of Ice Age animals that roamed the canyons. There will also a State Parks lifeguard providing an overview of river safety during the cleanup. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water and sunscreen. Parking is free in the morning for volunteers but parking is limited. Carpool if you can. For more information contact the Auburn SRA at 530-885-4527 or PARC at 530-210-5717 or visit www.PARC-Auburn.org. The Wild & Scenic American River Clean Up Volunteers, led by the North Fork American River Alliance, will meet at the Iowa Hill Bridge below Colfax at 8:30 a.m. for the Spring Cleanup.