Volunteers with the Ausable Freshwater Center help clean up the Ausable River. (Provided photo)

KEENE — The Ausable Freshwater Center will host its annual Earth Day AuSable River cleanup on Saturday, April 19.

AFC is looking for volunteers to remove garbage and debris from roadways and riverbanks in the Lake Placid, Wilmington, Jay, Upper Jay and Keene communities. Lunch and raffle prizes will be available after the cleanup to celebrate the community’s efforts to care for the river.

Volunteers are invited to join in restoring and protecting the beauty of the AuSable watershed.

“Our community loves this event and it shows just how much the AuSable River means to residents,” AFC Operations Director Madison Stroud said in a statement. “Last year, over 100 volunteers helped clean thousands of pounds of trash from the watershed.”

Rivers struggle to navigate threats like increased storm frequency and intensity, invasive species, undersized culverts and bank erosion. These cleanups ensure the AuSable River can better survive these challenges.

Lunch for all pre-registered volunteers will be provided by Hannaford Supermarket, coffee by Origin Coffee Co., cookies by Green Goddess Natural Market, and raffle items by Origin Coffee Co., NRS and others. Several local towns have shown their support, providing free waste disposal and other services that will make the event run smoothly. Casella will provide a dumpster and supplies to ensure garbage is collected safely.

The cleanup will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 19, with registration opening at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers will meet at the Community Center pavilion in Keene for registration and lunch. For more information and to pre-register, visit the Ausable Freshwater Center website at ausableriver.org/earth%20month%20cleanup.