PPU Thank You

The Kentucky Standard
110 W. Stephen Foster
Bardstown, KY 40004

Dear Editor,

On behalf of the members of the Bardstown Boaters I would like to thank everyone who participated in the sixth annual Paddle Pickup. The local rain shower on Friday provided just enough “bump” in the river’s water level to provide perfect conditions for volunteers to canoe and remove trash from six and a half miles of the Beech Fork River.Once again the success of the event rested on the hard work of the volunteers and the generosity of the sponsors.

Special thanks to Judge Executive Dean Watts, Central KY Canoe and Kayak, Horizon Hoppers, Quest Outdoors of Louisville, WBRT, and PLG TV for their ongoing support of the event. We were fortunate to welcome two local Boy Scouts Troops as they once again completed their civic duties by helping to remove nearly a ton of garbage from the waterway. We greatly appreciate the help from our newest supporters, the Nelson County 4-H Sport Fishing Club and Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE).

Photos and video of the event can be found online at www.BardstownBoaters.com. Feel free to share any thoughts or questions with us in the forum located on the website.

Sincerely,
Jay Thomas

Video from 2010 PPU

The New Paddle Pickup Flyer is now Available

Find all the information on the Paddle Pickup page.

Download Flyer (11 x 17, 13MB)

Meeting Recap

Here is a short breakdown from the meeting held last night. We had 10 members present.

Paddle Pickup

• We will try to paddle from Maud, the burg or Manton if the water flow is up. Low water cleanup will be from 49 to the fairgrounds.
• Justin will be in contact with the Boy Scouts of America.
• We need to lineup a trailer.
• Jay will be buying one or two canoes with last years funds.
• We will reuse left over t-shirts from last year for new volunteers.
• Tim will have the flyer ready mid march.
• Danielle is setting us up with some water education folks who will cross promote the event.
• Kenny will talk with Dean about the dumpster.

Whitewater Park
We unveiled the whitewater park cost estimates and drawings. Everyone liked what they saw. The city will recieve them next and we will pursue the next steps with their guidance.

For more visit this topic on the forum here.

Paddle Pickup Meeting

Paddle Pickup Meeting

February 24, 6:30 p.m.

Ricon Mexicano, Bardstown, Ky.

We will be meeting to discuss our plans for this years Paddle Pickup to be held on May 15 and any other club matters.

Come on out.

Paddle Pickup Editorial

By The Kentucky Standard Editorial Board

The Beech Fork River is one of Nelson County’s precious natural resources. It contributed to Bardstown being named one of 50 “next great adventure towns in which to live and play” by National Geographic Adventure magazine last year, and talks have begun to build a whitewater park.

It’s a shame, therefore, that there is a need for Paddle Pickup, during which the Bardstown Boaters club and other volunteers pull trash and debris from the Beech Fork. Saturday was the fifth annual Paddle Pickup, and enough stuff was pulled from the river to fill an industrial-sized garbage dumpster. Old tires, a Big Wheel and the inside tub of a washing machine were among the “treasures” found.

Some of the trash has been there for decades. Other items are more recent additions. We’d like to think littering has decreased as awareness about the need to protect the environment has improved, but one look at that industrial-sized garbage dumpster makes us wonder.

The volunteers with the Paddle Pickup are to be thanked and commended for helping clean the Beech Fork, but they can’t do it alone. All of us are responsible for disposing of our trash responsibly. That means not only keeping it out of the river, but also off roadsides and out of illegal dumps. And we shouldn’t consider the impact of our negligence only when Paddle Pickup reminds us of what it can cause.

Mind Your Waste

Stan Hurst, member of the Bardstown Boaters, stands in a boat full of tires dragged from the Beech Fork River. Tires are one of the most common items found in the river and over 50 were collected during this year's Paddle Pickup.

From the Kentucky Standard

By Cathy Barnes
On Saturday, 45 people joined paddles with the Bardstown Boaters to help clean up the five-mile portion of the Beech Fork River that runs through Nelson County.

For five years, the Bardstown Boaters have organized Paddle Pickup in an effort to help meet water conservation goals in Nelson County. This year, the group contributed to habitat conservation on the river by collecting enough trash to fill an industrial-sized garbage dumpster.

Although the day started off cloudy with fears of high water levels and continuing rain, the afternoon remained dry, making it an ideal day for the event.

Justin Janes, an organizer for the event, said the turnout was good considering the weather conditions.

Most people participating were from the Bardstown area but there were others who came in from Louisville as well. Boy Scout Troop 147 and Troop 142 also participated.

The group of about 15 to 20 canoes set off from the bridge at U.S. 31E and was out on the water for four hours dragging in debris that collected over the past year and in the last several decades. It took another few hours to get the debris loaded off the boats and into the dumpster.

Spalding Hurst, the president of the Bardstown Boaters, said items found included about 50 tires, a children’s Big Wheel and the inside tub of a washing machine. A prize was given to Jim Allen, assistant scoutmaster with Michael Thomas of Troop 147, who pulled out the washer because of its size and weight.

Although the effort of the volunteers was great, Hurst said they’ve only scratched the surface of the clean-up effort that needs to be done on the Beech Fork River.

“People should try to be mindful of their waste and what happens to it when they’re done with it,” said Hurst.

The Bardstown Boaters plan to host the event again sometime next May

If you would like any more information about this event or are interested in joining this group, visit www.bardstownboaters.com.

Thank You

Get the 2009 Paddle Pickup Shirt

On behalf of the members of the Bardstown Boaters I would like to thank everyone who participated in the fifth annual Paddle Pickup. Rain-soaked hair and mud-caked shoes couldn’t prevent volunteers from removing tires, bottles, cans, and even the guts of a washing machine as they canoed five miles of the Beech Fork River. Once again the success of the event rested on the hard work of the volunteers and the generosity of the sponsors.

Special thanks to Judge Dean Watts, Central KY Canoe and Kayak, Horizon Hoppers, Save-a-Lot Food Stores, the Kentucky Standard, and PLG TV for their ongoing support of the event. We’re also grateful of this year’s cooperation from Quest Outdoors and Columbia Sportswear. We were fortunate to welcome the Boy Scouts Troup 147 led by Mike Thomas as they once again completed their civic duties by helping remove close to a ton of garbage from the waterway. Also big thanks go out to the Hite family who provided river access to a section of the Beech Fork in dire need of our efforts.

Sincerely,
Jay Thomas

Pictures from the Paddle Pickup

Click here for the link to the picture album on Picasa or here for Facebook.

That Was Awesome

Paddle Pickup on PLG TV News

Paddle Pickup in the News

From the Kentucky Standard

By STEPHANIE HORNBACK

During the past four years, members of Bardstown Boaters and other volunteers, in conjunction with National River Cleanup, have pulled about four tons of trash and debris from Beech Fork River. The fifth annual Paddle Pickup is Saturday, and all ages are welcome to come lend a hand.

The condition of the river is a shame, Justin Janes, Bardstown Boaters environmental director, said, but the club hopes to help a little at a time. This year, it will tackle a new portion of the river, running west from the 31E bridge to just south of Blue Grass Parkway. The entire run will take about four hours. The county lent several industrial-size garbage containers for the effort, and the Boy Scouts will assist as well.

Participants should expect to get dirty and work their muscles, Janes said.

“It’s not an easy day on the river,” he said, but the payoff of knowing you’re working for a good cause is worth it. You’ll also get to see parts of Nelson County that you don’t normally see, Janes said.

Canoes and life jackets will be provided, or participants can bring their own. Life jackets are required. Trash bags, gloves and some refreshments will also be provided, but extras are welcome.

Volunteers will take to the water at 9 a.m., and the Bardstown Boaters Web site, www.bardstownboaters.com, advises getting to the meeting spot — the south side of the 31E bridge about a mile south of the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral — a few minutes early to sign in and get the canoes organized. A tent and banner will mark the meeting spot.

Prizes will be given for the most unique item found during the cleanup. Some of the trash has been there for decades, Janes said.

“You’d be surprised at the style of coke and beer cans we find.”

Paddle Pickup 2009

Paddle Pickup Route for 2009

View Paddle Pickup 2009 in a larger map

The stretch of river that the Bardstown Boaters will be covering for the 2009 Paddle Pickup has been set. It is a 5.2 mile stretch from 31e in Bardstown , Ky., to a very good access spot on the private property of the Hite family. They have graciously agreed to let us take out there. This will be the first time the river cleanup has taken place on this section of the Beech Fork.

For all the information on the Paddle Pickup please visit this section of the website.

Paddle Pickup 2008 Video

Paddle Pickup 2008

This year the Bardstown Boaters hosted their 4th Annual Paddle Pickup on the Beech Fork of the Salt River in Bardstown, KY. The Bardstown Boaters along with help from a total near 50 volunteers from across the state cleaned well over a ton of garbage from the Beech Fork. The section cleaned was from highway 49 to the Nelson County Fairgrounds.

The Paddle Pickup has now cleaned 13 miles of the Beech Fork in all, from Highway 605 in Manton to Highway 31E in Bardstown. The Bardstown Boaters are all ready looking forward to cleaning up more waste from our local waterways next year.

A very special thanks tp these people and organizations who make the Paddle Pickup such a huge success.

Mike Hammons & Central Kentucky Canoe and Kayak
DeanWatts & Nelson County Government
The Bardstown Rotary Club
Brad Hurst
Kenny Fogle & WBRT
David White
David Adams
Laura Blair (Newcomb Oil)
Jerry Boone & Boone’s Butcher Shop
Jennifer Waldron & 3D Graphics
Patrick Hayden & Keene’s Depot

Media: Pictures | Video

Bardstown Boaters At It Again

From: The Kentucky Standard

By STAFF REPORT

This Saturday the Bardstown Boaters, a local whitewater paddling and water conservation group, will host its fourth annual “Paddle Pick up.”

Each year the group cleans up a different four-mile section of the Beech Fork River. This year the group will pickup between KY 49 and The Nelson County Fairgrounds. Those interested can meet at 9 a.m. at Keene’s Depot at 8 Old Bloomfield Pike. Canoes will be available to those who do not have their own kayak or canoe, provided by Central Kentucky Canoe and Kayak. A shuttle will take the cleanup crew to the put in, the event is expected to last until 3 - 4 p.m.

The Bardstown group strives to meet water conservation, sustainability, energy conservation, and habitat conservation goals in Nelson County.

The local initiative is to clean up local waterways and promote awareness that coincides with National River Cleanup, a year-long initiative that kicks off May 31- June 8.

In the past three years the Bardstown Boaters and other volunteers have cleaned four tons of garbage and more than 300 tires out of the Beech Fork River.

“People should come out to clean out local waterways,” and no experience is necessary, said Bardstown Boaters president, Spalding Hurst.

Those interested in learning more about white water, canoeing or kayaking should visit www.bardstownboaters.com.

Paddle Pickup This Saturday!

The Paddle Pickup is this Saturday, May 31st. Participants will meet at 9 a.m. Keene’s Depot at 108 Old Bloomfield Pike in downtown Bardstown. Boats will be provided by Central Kentucky Canoe and Kayak for those who do not have their own.

The Bardstown Boaters along with local Boy Scout Troops and members of the community will be paddling the Beech Fork in Nelson County and removing garbage from the waterway.

For more information visit the Paddle Pickup page of the website or visit the the forum. But what ever you do, just be sure to join us this Saturday.

Press: The News-Enterprise | American Rivers

Paddle Pickup Shirts

Here is the screen for the Paddle Pickup Shirts. We tend to keep these shirts a little old school. We don't know what color these shirts will be yet. Leave your choice for the color of the shirts in the comments below.

The Paddle Pickup will be on Saturday, May 31st. Meet at Keene's Depot at 9 a.m.

Shirts will be given away to the first 60 volunteers. See you at the Paddle Pickup!

Paddle Pickup Meeting Place

This year's meeting place for the Paddle Pickup will be at Keen's Depot on Old Bloomfield Pike in Bardstown, Kentucky. We will meet at 9am. Patrick Hayden has graciously opened his doors to us as the jumping point for our annual river cleanup.

The Paddle Pickup is on Saturday May 31st. The Bardstown Boaters along with local Boy Scout Troops and members of the community will be paddling the Beech Fork in Nelson County and removing garbage from the waterway.

This is the 4th year for the Paddle Pickup. We receive support from Central Kentucky Canoe & Kayak, City of Bardstown, Nelson County Government and The Rotary Club.

The Bardstown Boaters hold the Paddle Pickup in conjunction with National River Cleanup Week. In the past the club has removed over 3 tons of waste from the river.

Pass around the Paddle Pickup flyer and join us on May 31st! For more information visit the Paddle Pickup webpage or talk to us in the forum.