A volunteer hauls a tire, recovered by other volunteers wearing waders, to shore at a cleanup of a segment of Connoquenessing Creek in Jackson Twp. sponsored by the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance on Saturday during the 2012 cleanup.

Christina Handley, vice-president of the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance, asked the county commissioners at their Wednesday meeting to be a sponsor for the 2019 Connoquenessing Creek Cleanup days scheduled on Saturday, Aug. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 7.

Handley said the alliance will incur increased expenses for this year's cleanup events because large items, including an entire cabin, were washed into the creek by the recent rain-fueled flooding. In addition, the agreement with Bridgestone to recycle the tires pulled from the creek has become inefficient, as the tires from the 2018 events have not yet been picked up by Bridgestone. Handley said the alliance will see a $4 increase per tire in the cost to recycle them.

She said 419,000 pounds of garbage and 4,455 tires have been removed from the Connoquenessing Creek over the past seven years by those who volunteer at the cleanup events.

Commissioners chairwoman Leslie Osche told Handley to meet with Lance Welliver, the county's parks and recreation director, regarding support from the county.

More information on the Allegheny Aquatic Alliance and its activities is available at www.alleghenyaquaticalliance.com.