OPERATION CLEAN STREAM at Simpson Lake

IT'S PAYBACK TIME, YAK PACKERS! A bunch of us do this every year, and we have a ball! Super fun day, and you feel really good when you finish...even if you are filthy and stinky! This is the link to sign up for Simpson. Registration opens mid June, I'll keep you posted here and on FB.

- Operation Clean Stream — Open Space STL

In previous years, the county donated 16 canoes at Simpson. First come, first served on a walk up basis. We should be able to get canoes if we get there early enough. We used their canoes, and they were filthy when we finished.

In 2023, we were caught in a huge thunderstorm coming across the lake, but we were cleaner than usual when we landed. In 2024, we had a campout planned and missed this. We were all super disappointed, it's such a fun day.

There are also locations along the Meramec River, but you have to sign up early for those spots. Registration opens mid June, I'll try to post info when I get it.

You absolutely do NOT want to use your own kayaks, especially inflatables. We pick up tires, bicycles, soccer balls and a ton of plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

They provide a lunch for all volunteers, from all locations, after the cleanup. Last year, it was at Greentree Park, right across the street from Simpson Lake. Usually there are t-shirts and other give-aways. I'm thinking the lunch might have to be somewhere other than Greentree this year, unless they get the pavilion repaired by then. It was totally wrecked by a flood this spring.

DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN BOAT.

LEAVE FIDO AT HOME. You might have some nasty stuff or sharp objects in your canoe. This involves sometimes nosing your boat into the bank to grab junk. You don't need a furball up front blocking your way or trying to go ashore.

There is also a land based cleanup, but wear high top boots if you plan to do that. There may be more canoes available on a first come/first serve basis. There were extras last year.

Bring your PFD, just in case, but I plan to use theirs. It's a very dirty day for us, and hopefully they provide nasty PFDs. They do provide gloves, paddles and trash bags. You will have to sign a waiver before you join in.

With all of the enjoyment we get out of Simpson Lake, I hope that some of our people will join in to help remove the trash that we always complain about.