Volunteers get dirty to clean up Tuolumne River

A large crowd gathered on the north bank of the Tuolumne River on the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving. Young children, student groups, parents and grandparents stood together, united by the common goal that has been propelling this meetup for the past year and a half.

Operation 9-2-99 began in June 2014 as an attempt to restore land along the Tuolumne River and convert it into a clean environment that would benefit the community and the ecosystem. In the 17 times the cleanup has been held since, more than 1,000 volunteers have collected and cleared 176 tons of garbage, nearly 500 shopping carts and 430 tires. The location differs each month to extend preservation efforts along the river.

Last month, the focus was on the north bank, a deserted area cluttered with trash and homeless camps, neighboring a paradoxically well-kept golf course with lush, green grass. The goal of the 9-2-99 cleanup is to eventually make the area usable for recreation. The site, with a dirt trail that could be used for biking or hiking, shows great potential.

“I think (the program) is important because the river ... is too valuable to our community and region to neglect,” said Chris Guptill, founder of Operation 9-2-99. “We have a responsibility to keep it clean and use it appropriately. ... Modesto deserves a clean, natural, crime-free and drug-free environment to recreate and enjoy.”

Guptill has proved dedicated to this community service project. At the recent cleanup, he greeted the crowd with a welcoming smile and a quick speech on safety precautions. Shortly afterward, the group, teeming with energy, headed to the river with trash bags and gloves in hand.

Jennifer McKinney, a biology teacher at Enochs High School, was there with the school’s Environmental Club, which she helps run.

“As a club, our mission is to be a group that makes a difference in our community through environmental stewardship. The students in the club have a passion for action when it comes to our local environment (and) being the change they want to see in their world,” McKinney said.

But McKinney wasn’t there just for the school. Her husband, Kyle, and their three children, ages 8 to 10, were with her and ready to work.

“We like to do community service together as a family,” she said. “It helps give the kids and us some perspective on life outside our own bubble. It teaches them the value of hard work, teamwork, community pride and to have a heart for selfless service.”

Among the 90 volunteers who showed up last month, there also were students from Modesto Junior College; California State University, Stanislaus; and Downey, Johansen, Beyer, Davis and Modesto high schools.

In a staggered line, groups tackled small collections of trash. Two women lugged off a sheet of wood while a group of young boys unearthed a foam mattress. There were smiles, light conversation and even laughter.

Though the surface mission was to remove trash, there seemed to be an underlying unity running much deeper.

City Councilwoman Jenny Kenoyer, a regular volunteer with the project, was on her knees to scoop up trash.

“By cleaning up the riverbank,” she said, “we hope it will restore it to its natural habitat (and) make it a safe, beautiful park for our community to enjoy,” Kenoyer said.

The group encountered numerous homeless camps during the day.

“Many of the people experiencing homelessness have no place to live. They find the riverbank a safe place to stay,” said Kenoyer. “Unfortunately, they often leave their trash behind.”

Guptill also commented on the impact Modesto’s large homeless population has had on the community.

“Years of neglect created a real mess along the river, especially through the heart of Modesto. Homelessness certainly contributed to some of that, but it is also a result of illegal dumping, illegal camping and general apathy toward this area of our community.”

As the morning wrapped up and people began to head home, the trail shone in its natural, trash-free state, an evident symbol of all the care and effort every volunteer had invested in it. The Tuolumne riverbank still might look cluttered and messy, but as the months pass and other areas are zeroed in on, the trash is being reduced piece by piece.

“It is a very complicated problem that can’t be solved overnight,” Kenoyer said. “It will take time, but we need to start working on it now.”

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 2:32 PM with the headline "Volunteers get dirty to clean up Tuolumne River."