SACO — Volunteers are needed to help in an annual effort to remove trash from the Saco River.

Saco Salmon Restoration Alliance, a local volunteer-run non-profit, is hosting its annual Saco River Trash Drive on Sept. 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is being held in conjunction with the Maine Department of Inland and Wildlife’s Landowner Appreciation Day. 

The alliance began the annual trash drive in 2015, and reports that in the past two years, with the help of scout troops, community members and various agencies and organization, 5.5 tons of trash has been removed from 20 miles of the river. 

According to a report on the 2016 trash drive published by the alliance, items found at last year’s trash drive include a window frame, dog crate, weed whacker, lobster pot, a rubber ducky, a construction site sign and three safes.

“We’re in need of folks to clean by canoe, motorboat and on foot as well as support staff (to off load debris from the boats, help with sign-in/sign-out, distribute maps, lunches and trash bags, shuttle canoers, etc.),” said Saco Salmon Restoration Alliance President Rick LaRiviere in an email.

LaRiviere asks that volunteers sign up as soon as possible so the group can better plan for the event. To register for the event, go to www.sacosalmon.com or contact the alliance on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/saco.salmon. 

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.