Oxford area volunteers will be participating in the annual Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River and its tributaries, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 18.

Oxford’s portion of the Clean Sweep is organized by Donna McCollum with 3 Valley Conservation Trust and Andreas Eddy with The City of Oxford Water Treatment Plant. Those wishing to volunteer should register here and meet by the Black Covered Bridge at 5401 Corso Road or the Dewitt Cabin Parking Lot on Oxford-Trenton Road. 

The Clean Sweep is an annual event with many towns partnering to clean the river system, from Indian Lake to the Ohio River.

 The event expanded three years ago to include tributaries of the river like Four Mile Creek, which flows through the Oxford area and goes under the Black Covered Bridge. 

The sweep was started in 1986 when two Tri-County Sanitation workers were collecting water samples and noticed the polluted water. In the years following, the sanitation office received more support from area hospitals, helping to expand the effort further north and south. 

All cleanup supplies are included free of charge, but the website recommends bringing gloves as they sometimes run out. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.