River Rangers AZ

"It's OK to throw this piece of trash on the ground/in the water, the Forest Service will clean it up..."

We've overheard this at least once while out on the lower Salt River. Just to clarify, when you see folks out in the long sleeve green USDA Forest Service shirts, whether it's the OD cotton or the dry fit, those folks are not paid Forest Service employees, they are Volunteers. Though Forest Service personnel do join us from time-to-time, most of the time it's community member volunteers participating and leading our Paddle 'n PitchIN 🚮 events through the U.S. Forest Service-Tonto National Forest River Rangers program.

Now would it be nice to pay folks to do this, sure, but we can think of better ways to spend that funding for recreational services like upgrades to the day use recreation sites, a designated paddlers exit at Phon D Sutton, or even river facing way finding signage to assist folks in navigating the river, instead of spending it in having staff cleaning up after others.

We appreciate ALL the community members who and by disposing of their trash in the dumpsters provided at the recreation sites. 🫶 Please educate others that it's everyone's responsibility to cleanup after themselves.



River Rangers

One of our volunteers lost a side fin matching the one in the picture while out on a recent Paddle 'n PitchIN 🚮 🚣‍♂️ event. If you come across it, they'd appreciate getting it back. It's stamped: DR. D.
Send us a DM if you come across it. TIA

Did you lose an iPhone with some other personal belongings on the lower Salt River? One of our River Rangers volunteers recovered this item from the river this morning during our Paddle 'n PitchIN 🚮 🚣‍♂️ event. Feel free to send us a DM to confirm.

Though our focus is not necessarily looking for lost items, we do turn valuables we find into the Tonto National Forest Mesa Ranger District office located near Higley & McKellips.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YAUDESY73rFjvXSR8?g_st=ac

Office hours are Mon-Fri 8am-12pm & 12:30pm-4:30pm. Call ahead to confirm (480) 610-3300.

We also post the items to the Salt River (Lost and Found) pages.

*** As Forest Service volunteers, we are not allowed to accept any offers of work related gratuities, gifts, or favors for finding & returning lost items. ***

Are you missing a phone? Three iPhones found this past weekend on the lower Salt River by our River Rangers volunteers. One owner we have already been in contact with, the other two still need to be verified and claimed. Feel free to send us a DM to confirm.

Though our focus is not necessarily looking for lost items, we do turn valuables we find into the Tonto National Forest Mesa Ranger District office located near Higley & McKellips.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YAUDESY73rFjvXSR8?g_st=ac

Office hours are Mon-Fri 8am-12pm & 12:30pm-4:30pm. Call ahead to confirm (480) 610-3300.

We also post the items to the Salt River (Lost and Found) pages.

*** As Forest Service volunteers, we are not allowed to accept any offers of work related gratuities, gifts, or favors for finding & returning lost items. ***

"Why do you mention the recyclables ♻️ in your event recaps?"

A few reasons, but most importantly we practice principles, and would fall under 'disposing of waste properly' as there are no services for recycling at the rec sites.

We also want to minimize our impact. Collecting plastic beverages bottles, aluminum cans, and glass bottles (glass is prohibited 🚫 as it's a serious safety issue when broken) and diverting these items from the landfill makes sense. Unfortunately if these items are discarded improperly, tossed in the river to fill with silt & debris, they will not be accepted for recycling. 🫤

We are also able to cash in on the aluminum recycling and purchase additional supplies like gloves, carabineers, lightweight trash grabbers, magnets, buckets, and a used wagon for our water & land based cleanup events. That's a WIN, WIN, WIN, scenario! We'd like to give credit to Litter Critters AZ for coming out to River Rangers events and providing the insight on the best way to go about recycling these items.

Lastly, we do segregate the vapes that are discarded as we don't want to see a garbage truck fire out on the lower Salt River due to e-waste being tossed in the dumpsters.

Hopefully that explains why we talk about recycling ♻️ and though it often doesn't add up to an impressive weight, we still think it's a noteworthy positive impact in our efforts. 🚣‍♂️

Have a safe & relaxing Memorial Day weekend!