Our team's immediate goal of removing accumulated trash along the Banister from the King’s Bridge Landing to the take-out 6.2 miles downstream at Terry’s Bridge, was accomplished allowing us to document the type, quantity and weight of refuse for the first time in 4 years. Through postings on social media and local newspaper articles, our clean-up partners have been able to raise awareness throughout the community about the importance of keeping the rivers in Southern Virginia free of trash and abuse and to celebrate protecting these wonderful natural resources in Halifax County for ecological and recreational benefit. Multiple clean-ups per year will help sustain this goal, possibly along other sections of the Banister and the neighboring rivers which comprise the Southern Virginia Wild Blueway (SVWB). The SVWB consists of four rivers and two lakes spanning Halifax and Mecklenburg counties, connecting over 100 miles of navigable water and 1,200 miles of shoreline.
For this event, the ChangeX partners including the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and local businesses, engaged with the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce and the Halifax County Strategic Plan Quality of Place Working Group to focus on land-based clean-ups at bridge approaches, removing trash which eventually washes into the waterways.
There can now be new educational and anti-litter campaigns to help change negative behaviors which have been enabled by a "throw away culture", working with Keep Virginia Beautiful, Scenic Virginia, the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, the Quality of Place Working Group and Halifax County Improvement Council by illustrating the problems and the solutions.
"Two for the Road"-Wet weather did not deter our intrepid father and daughter team, Paul and Alex Lowry from tackling the worst of the land based clean-up area at Cowford Bridge where they picked up trash filling 5 VDOT bags, 3 tires, 2 fluorescent tube lights, 1 camping cooler and 1 Thermos 18 gallon water cooler. 2 VDOT trash bags of litter were picked up at the Terry's Bridge take-out on USACE property with 1 VDOT bag full of trash at the Banister Lake Boat Landing next to the US Hwy 501 Bridge picked up around the shore, and 1 VDOT trash bag picked up along the James Stone Easley Memorial Bridge (VA Scenic Byway 360), next to the put-in at King's Bridge Landing. Thank you Dan River Basin Association's Anna Wheeler and Brian Williams for promoting the event and coordinating delivery of the DRBA clean-up box!
With the predicted wet weather forecast on our rescheduled river clean-up date, a "flash mob" flotilla of one canoe made it down the Banister on a beautiful Friday afternoon, escorted by two bald eagles, a pair of great blue herons, a half dozen wood ducks, and the occasional belted kingfisher. 9 tires were hauled out (including a Goodyear Eagle ST near its namesake's perch), along with 2 VDOT trash bags, 1 styrofoam flotation block, 1 styrofoam bucket, and a waterlogged office chair.
The Banister River Flotsam Flotilla has been RESCHEDULED due to heavy rains forecast from Tropical Storm Ophelia! Join the ChangeX team, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, VDOT on October 14 at 10 am for TWO opportunities to keep Halifax County beautiful: RIVER CLEAN-UP (6.2 miles to Terry's Bridge): Meet King's Bridge Landing 1041 Bethel Road, Halifax, VA Google Maps BYOB (Bring your own boat!) Lifejackets (PFDs) are required Protective, dry-fit clothing and water shoes are recommended Please provide your own provisions, snacks, and water Gloves, trash bags, pickers, and an event t-shirt will be provided! LAND CLEAN-UP (Rte. #614 Love Shop/Cowford Road Bridge area): Meet at Kings Bridge Landing, 1041 Bethel Road, Halifax, VA Google Maps Protective, dry-fit clothing and close-toed shoes are recommended Please provide your own provisions, snacks, and water Gloves, trash bags, pickers, and an event t-shirt will be provided! After sign-up, volunteers will be directed to Love Shop/Cowford Road Bridge Google Maps All volunteers will sign a waiver before the event begins. Questions? Contact Carl Espy at [email protected]
www.signupgenius.com
The Banister River Flotsam Flotilla is ON! Thanks to ChangeX, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, VDOT, and DCR-Join us on September 23 at 10 am for TWO opportunities to keep Halifax County beautiful and celebrate National Public Lands Day: RIVER CLEAN-UP (6.2 miles to Terry's Bridge): Meet King's Bridge Landing 1041 Bethel Road, Halifax, VA Google Maps BYOB (Bring your own boat!) Lifejackets (PFDs) are required Protective, dry-fit clothing and water shoes are recommended Please provide your own provisions, snacks, and water Gloves, trash bags, pickers, and an event t-shirt will be provided! LAND CLEAN-UP (Rte. #614 Love Shop/Cowford Road Bridge area): Meet at Kings Bridge Landing, 1041 Bethel Road, Halifax, VA Google Maps Protective, dry-fit clothing and close-toed shoes are recommended Please provide your own provisions, snacks, and water Gloves, trash bags, pickers, and an event t-shirt will be provided! After sign-up, volunteers will be directed to Love Shop/Cowford Road Bridge Google Maps All volunteers will sign a waiver before the event begins. Questions? Contact Carl Espy at [email protected]
www.signupgenius.com
Banister Flotsam "Flotillers"-some members of the Team have discussed making a scouting paddle this Saturday, June 18th, meeting at King's Bridge Landing-1041 Bethel Road @ 10:00am to first determine conditions, flag any stringers or strainers for removal, spot for any debris/trash concentration areas, etc.
After that trip, we can determine some dates in mid/late July to launch the Flotilla when river levels should be low and more "legacy" tires may be found to be hauled away.
Please email to: [email protected] or FB message/reply to this post if you'd like to scout the Banister this Saturday...
Woohoo-We've Completed the 30 day Jump Start Challenge 🎉unlocking our $350.00 seed funding allocation to help get the group activated! Group members are encouraged to join the Team. We'll begin planning for the clean up on Saturday June 18th or Saturday June 25th, stay tuned...🛶🛶🛶 (Photo Courtesy of Brian Williams, DRBA)
The Banister-ChangeX Team held a safe distanced "kick-off" meeting at the King's Bridge Landing site on the river 03-15-22. For those who couldn't attend in person to discuss the action plan, we set up a “virtual” option too, making contact via texts, Facetime & Facebook Messenger Group to chat; 3 Team members took part in person and 7 Team members offered feedback remotely. An additional 10 people are expected to join the Team. We discussed river clean-up dates for a Saturday in June, trash pick-up materials to purchase, ways to promote the event, and logistics for shuttling boats & loading refuse. An immediate goal will be removing accumulated trash along the Banister for the approximate 7 miles from the hydro-electric dam upstream of King’s Bridge to the take-out 6.2 miles downstream at Terry’s Bridge, and documenting the type, quantity and weight of refuse for the first time in almost 3 years. The Team also is seeking to raise awareness throughout the community about the importance of keeping the rivers in Southern Virginia free of trash and abuse to celebrate protecting these wonderful natural resources in Halifax County for ecological and recreational benefit. Multiple clean-ups per year will help sustain this goal, possibly along other sections of the Banister and the neighboring rivers which comprise the Southern Virginia Wild Blueway (SVWB). The SVWB consists of four rivers and two lakes spanning Halifax and Mecklenburg counties, connecting over 100 miles of navigable water and 1,200 miles of shoreline.
Several Team members have been involved with previous clean-up events on the Banister and suggested continuing to work with sponsors like the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and local businesses. This year for the ChangeX event, in addition to working again with those partners, the Team will be engaging with Keep Virginia Beautiful, Scenic Virginia, and the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce which is promoting a community wide cleanup along roadways on April 23rd as part of various Earth Day activities, including 14th Annual “Earth Day Extravaganza” in the Town of Halifax at the Market Square (farmers market). The ChangeX Team will participate in all these activities, including a two-day Better Block gathering downtown, using the venues to help educate, promote and recruit for the river cleanup later in June. The Team is narrowing those dates to Saturday June 18th or Saturday June 25th and will select a few alternate dates depending on the weather and river flow conditions. The Flotilla will be another opportunity for citizens to take action following the Halifax County Improvement Council’s spring clean-up, with this round focusing on removing trash and debris from a State Scenic River listed as one of Virginia’s Treasures.
Seed funding will be used to purchase trash grabbers, trowels, gloves, hand sanitizers and other safety materials. Canoe and paddling equipment rentals with local outfitters may also be necessary depending on the number of participants who register without their own boats. The VDOT–Halifax residency has generously donated orange trash bags. Cross-promotional and public outreach work may also include coordinating with the Halifax County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), to replenish the “Only Rain Down the Drain” storm drain marker and public education program featured as part of the 2016 Earth Day Extravaganza. River clean up registration posts, waiver forms and safety guidelines will be featured on the ChangeX portal, using social media, press releases and in-person community forums.
DRBA Executive Director Tiffany Haworth has commented ahead of the river events over the years, “All of the waterways in the Dan River Basin connect communities and people. Most people understand that clean water is important to our health, our local economy and for future generations. I’m so excited to see that the people of Halifax truly value their river by participating in these cleanups.” 63.3 miles of the Banister, which flows past the Town of Halifax, are designated a State Scenic River. It is a tributary of the Dan River sub-basin and the Roanoke River Basin.
