The 2026 Strategic Plan for the Onion Bag Litter Prevention Project outlines a series of coordinated efforts to reduce litter and maintain the natural beauty of Ohio’s rivers, lakes, and parks through cleanups, installations, and volunteer engagement.
Kokosing Scenic River Cleanup Initiatives
The project will support Friends of the Kokosing Scenic River by assisting with ground cleanups at all canoe and kayak access points and adjacent roadways during the spring season. Targeted locations include:
- Riverside Park in Mount Vernon
- Memorial Park in Mount Vernon
- Lower Gambier Road Access
- Laymon Road Access
- Big Run Access
- Killduff Road Access
- Hope Fishing Access
- Pipesville Road Access
- Millwood Access
- Hazeldell Road
- Honeyrun Park
- Zuck Landing
- Riley Chapel Access
- Confluence Access
River Sweep Activities
- Monthly river sweeps of the main stem of the Mohican River will be conducted using motorized canoes from March through August.
- A comprehensive river sweep with volunteers is scheduled for August 29, 2026.
Event Participation and Additional Cleanups
- Participation in the Kokosing River Rally on September 19, 2026.
- Complete river sweep of the Walhonding River on September 12, 2026.
- Licking River Cleanup from Dillon Falls to Putnam Landing on the Muskingum in May 2026.
- American Eagle Day cleanup on the Tuscarawas River from Navarre to Bolivar on June 20, 2026.
- Collaboration with Delaware City Parks for the Olentangy River Cleanup in August 2026.
- Cleanup of the Muskingum River through Zanesville in July 2026.
- Cleanup of Long Lake in the Portage Lakes in March 2026.
Installation of Litter Prevention Boxes
- Initiate box installation efforts in the Miami River watershed.
- Install approximately 60 boxes in the following State Parks: Mosquito Lake, Lake Milton, Lake White, Mount Gilead, Punderson Lake, Beaver Creek, Burr Oak, Cowan Lake, Delaware, Dillon, Findley, Lake Home, Pymatuning, Salt Fork, Shawnee, Strouds Run, and West Branch.
- Install at least 20 additional boxes along the Ohio River Way.
- Expand box installations to all remaining lakes within the Muskingum Watershed.