The Waterford River and its banks got another spring cleanup thanks to members of the Rotary Club of Waterford Valley and retired members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who for two years in a row now have combined efforts to protect the picturesque stream which runs through three of the largest municipalities on the Avalon Peninsula. “The RCMP Veterans were out in force and did an amazing job in cleaning the beautiful area from Corrisande Drive west to the feed plant,” said Rotarian and longtime Waterford River protector Bill Stoyles. “The photos (we took) are evidence enough of the challenges we and they face and the amount of litter and debris that accumulates along our roads and trailways, especially in open areas. Illegal backfill-ing into the protected buffer zone, ploughing of snow and debris into the river and wetlands and the inattention to dumpsters all contribute to this problem and our Rotary Club is working with the Conservation Corps, Department of Environment and the three municipalities (of Paradise, Mount Pearl and St. John’s) to ensure that these illegal activities are stopped and the offenders identified and fined appropriately.” In top photo are Rotary crew members, from left: Bernadette Stoyles, Tom Davis, Mark Rice and Bill Stoyles. In bottom photo, from left, are retired Mounties Dave Tipple, Leo O’Brien, Bob Medd, Randy Mercer, Brian Campbell and Pat Pendergast. “These guys did amazing work,” said Stoyles. “And they loved it.”