Friends of the Rum River is hosting their 5th annual Rum River Cleanup! The Rum River runs from Lake Mille Lacs to the Mississippi River in Anoka.

Paddlers and volunteers (this is an in-the-water cleanup) will meet at 9:30 a.m. for a half-hour introduction to the cultural and geological history of the uppermost stretch of the Rum River at the Mille Lacs Kathio State Park Interpretive Center.

Volunteers will then move canoes and kayaks to the parking lot of the boat access area just south of the interpretive center, east side of the Rum (plenty of room for vehicles). Volunteers will travel upriver, do a very short portage around the dam at the south end of Lake Ogechie, then canoe the perimeter of Lake Ogechie, up to Lake Mille Lacs. Anyone interested can venture out into the Big Lake (weather permitting) and do some clean-up along the shoreline, then return downriver to the boat access.

Cleanup equipment and a limited number of boats (see next paragraph) will be provided as well as a free lunch. Volunteers should be out of the river around 3 p.m., but can take as much time as they want. It is a six- to eight-mile round trip.

All those assisting with the cleanup will be able to enter Mille Lacs Kathio State Park at no charge. Stop first at the park entrance for a work permit. The park is also offering the use of six canoes at no charge.

If you would like to reserve a canoe or need a canoe partner, contact Ralph Borchardt at 763-689-0812. For other questions and to RSVP, contact Kriste at RumRiverNews@yahoo.com.