Cleaning the Little Sioux: Wal-Mart employees, volunteers sweep river for junk

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Tyler Bussell and Greg Besawworked as one of the canoe teams retrieving garbage and other waste items from the water and shoreline as part of the first annual Little Sioux River Cleanup. [Order this photo]

Starting from two different points, Wal-Mart employees from the Spencer and Storm Lake stores worked together to help cleanup one of northwest Iowa's main waterways. The first annual Little Sioux River Cleanup event started Stolleys Park in Spencer and the Burr Wildlife Area in Buena Vista County; and concluded in West Leach Park and the Sioux Rapids park respectively.

In between those points, teams of canoe riders floated the Little Sioux, looking for garbage and debris in the river and along the shore. A good amount of discarded items were collected along the way, including a full size bike.

Heath Staedtler, a market electronics merchandiser for Wal-Mart, coordinated the project which involved 18 associates between the two locations, with help from the Clay County and Buena Vista County conservation officers. Five Spencer residents also showed up to take part in the project.

Staedtler was pleased with the turnout and what the group was able to turn up. "I'm really happy. This is the first year and the water's high. Next year, I might plan it for the fall when it's a little lower. The people that helped had great spirits. It worked out really well. It was a beautiful day. We hit it right."

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Among the many items dug from the river, a bicycle was perhaps the largest piece found discarded in the Little Sioux between Stolleys Park and West Leach Park. [Order this photo]

Among the many items fished from the river, a large child's bike.

Staedtler became concerned a few months ago when he read an article in the Daily Reporter citing water quality issues in the the region.

"They were talking about the water levels and the junk in it, I thought, this is something I can spearhead and get Wal-Mart involved with," Staedtler said.

His first step was to contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for approval.

"We are now part of the Stream Keepers group. We will be doing cleanups every year," said Staedtler. "Next year, I want to get Spirit Lake involved too.

Staedtler was thankful for all the help he received, from the volunteers who took part in the float, to the conservation offices and the high school for providing canoes, and the city dump which took the collected materials at no charge.

At the end of the ride, nearing 1 p.m., the group met at West Leach Park and grilled some burgers and hot dogs to celebrate the successful endeavor.

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Teams of Wal-Mart employees and volunteers work their way down the Little Sioux River, scanning for garbage as they traveled beneath the West Fourth Street overpass. [Order this photo]

Staedtler said that next year, he hopes to see more public volunteers join the Wal-Mart staff and conservation reps in the cleanup outing.