Cornwall Ontario — Monday, April 22nd was Earth Day and this year, as in previous years, the staff at the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences spent their lunch hour cleaning up the shoreline around the waterfront Institute and St. Lawrence College.

River Institute staff members have made it an annual tradition to celebrate Earth day by getting their feet wet as they cleaned up along their namesake river.

Over the years the items collected have been numerous and diverse. Over successive years an assortment of throw away articles from old mattresses to rusting shopping carts have dotted the shoreline, putting the health of the river where we get our drinking water at risk. But there could be some good news along this section of the St. Lawrence this year.

While garbage is still found in and around our water, the situation may have improved to some extent. This year a few less garbage bags were needed to do the job.

River Institute Education and Outreach Programmer and this years’ shoreline cleanup organizer, Lisa Mignealt said, “It seems to be getting a little better and that is encouraging. People taking small steps can make a difference.”