To combat pollution and celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association will be holding its 4th Annual Stream Clean-ups April 24 and 25 and May 1 and 2. Volunteers will be rolling up their sleeves to help keep our lakes, rivers and streams clean and healthy.

New for 2010: The Watershed Association is proud announce Vera Crabtree, age 10, from Hightstown as the winner of the Stream Clean-up Logo Contest. Vera’s winning design is featured on Stream Clean-up T-shirts and promotional material. Plus, working with Sustainable Princeton local artists and students created four “Trashy Trees” from trash collected at the Watershed Association’s stream clean-up in Princeton last year. The trees are now on display in a variety of locations – including the Watershed Association’s main office in Hopewell.

In 2009, more than 244 volunteers hauled 7,013 pounds of trash from area waterways. Since its inception, the Stream Clean-ups have removed close to 10 tons of trash. This year, the Watershed Association is partnering with municipal and environmental leaders in 12 towns across Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.

Cleanups happening in Hopewell are:

Hopewell Township

Saturday May 1, 1 to 3 p.m.

The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, members of the Hopewell Township Environmental Commission, Department of Public Works and volunteers will meet at Bear Tavern Road and Washington Crossing Road to clean up Jacob’s Creek. Parking is available on the north side of Jacob’s Creek Bridge. In 2009, four volunteers picked up 150 pounds of trash near the Stony Brook.

For a complete listing of Stream Clean-ups visit http://www.thewatershed.org/watershedwatch.

To volunteer, contact Watershed Association Community Advocacy Coordinator Leslie Brecknell at (609) 737-3735 Ext. 30 or lbrecknell@thewatershed.org. Volunteers should wear boots and long sleeves, and bring a water bottle and work gloves if they have them. T-shirts provided as well as in-kind refreshments from Whole Foods Market. On the web: http://www.thewatershed.org.