The annual Conewango Creek Cleanup, sponsored by the Conewango Creek Watershed Association, was held on Saturday.

A total of 31 volunteers worked on the water and along the banks of the creek from the island upstream from Hatch Run to the Front Street boat launch across from Warren State Hospital.

“This year’s efforts focused on the section from behind Tractor Supply to the Front Street boat launch,” Organizer Sue Nielsen said. “We made a dent, especially behind the Warren Mall.”

The dent consisted of 270 pounds of metal, four tires, and piles of plastic and polystyrene garbage, Nielsen said.

Conewango Creek Cleanup volunteers Sylvia Grisez and John Nobles unload garbage from their boat Saturday.

“We tried to hit the back channels and islands that are usually missed on this stretch when we start at the Big Four launch, as that is a long stretch of waterway to clean up in just four hours,” she said. “This section is also challenging due to the lack of access to the Conewango Creek. Much of it is steep hillsides, farm land or private property without easy, flat entry points to the shoreline and we don’t want to drive across people’s back yards with trucks and trailers leaving ruts.”

The workers had to leave some things behind.

“There is still a lot (behind the mall) as well as some big items down river of Ekey’s we couldn’t get out due to time constraints and limited manpower,” she said. “We will hopefully be able to dig them out next year. These include a shopping cart buried in the bank, a hot water tank, and a lot of metal dumped over the bank off State State in North Warren.”

“We want to thank all the volunteers and sponsors who make this possible each year,” Nielsen said.