CLINTON — The Illinois Conservation Police will sponsor a clean-up day at Clinton Lake on Saturday, Apr. 29, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to help collect a bag trash from the water and around the shoreline.  The will be the second such effort.  The first was organized in June 2016.

The clean-up will begin at Mascoutin Beach.  Team leaders and boats that can operate in shallow areas and haul trash bags are needed along with volunteers to help with the clean-up.  Lunch will be provided.

Anyone interested in helping should call (217) 935-6757.

The weather cooperated in 2016 as about 75 volunteers worked to pick up trash and debris on and around Clinton Lake.

CPO Matt Vivenito, of the Conservation Police, came up with the idea for the first volunteer clean up last year, assisted by Conservation Police Capt. Jim Mayes and Melissa Armstrong of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Thirteen areas were designated for clean up in 2016.  The volunteers managed to complete the five areas most in need.

“That’s pretty good for a couple of hours,” Mayes said.  Mayes said in 2016 it would likely be an annual project.

Several area organizations provided volunteers for the clean up in 2016, including Clinton Youth Initiative, which also worked on a brush clean-up project at Little Galilee the same week.

At least one Conservation Police officer from another area showed up to help, too.  CPO William Cottrell, of Danville, helped load trucks filled with garbage bags containing debris.  He worked alongside DeWitt County Emergency Management Agency coordinator Teresa Barnett.