Tina O'Brien of Adams Township and Jenna Reeder of Clearfield taxi a canoe full of tires on Connoquenessing Creek during an annual cleanup. The seventh annual cleanup effort will be on Aug. 18 and again on Sept. 8.

The seventh annual Connoquenessing Creek Cleanup will be held on Aug. 18 and again on Sept. 8.

Volunteers are needed to help pull tires and other debris from the final stretch of the creek, help dispose of the debris brought to the creek's edge, ferry workers and equipment from location to location, staff the dumpsite and count tires, deliver food and snacks to workers, and other tasks, according to a press release from the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance.

This year's 10-mile stretch of creek to be cleaned runs through Ellwood City and ends at Rock Point, where the Connoquenessing Creek drains into the Beaver River.

The Alliance has pulled more than 4,000 tires and 360,000 pounds of garbage from the Connoquenessing in its seven years in existence. Alliance crews have also added canoe and kayak launches at various locations along the creek, some with picnic tables and other features.

The Connoquenessing Creek was rated the second-most polluted waterway in America in 2000, and is now a source of recreation for county residents and visitors alike.

For the two cleanup events, the Alliance also needs trucks, nonmotorized boats, refreshments, lunch food, shovels, winches, rope, chains, leather work gloves, small tractors, access points on the creek and hip waders.

All cleanup volunteers will be provided with a T-shirt, snacks, water and lunch. They also will be invited to the cleanup celebration party, which features food, live music and prizes.

Those who wish to offer vehicles, access or other items for the cleanup, or who have questions, can click on “Contact us” at www.alleghenyaquaticalliance.com.