Volunteers pull 6 tons of trash from Iowa River

IOWA CITY (AP) ? Volunteers have taken advantage of the low water level in the Iowa River by pulling more than six tons of trash out of the water, lowered by this summer?s dry weather.

It has taken 38 people in 20 canoes seven hours on the river to clean up a nearly 10-mile section between Iowa City and Hills.

Volunteers in the canoes pulled out of the river 200 old tires, more than a ton of metal, and numerous unusual items including a headless rocking horse, a couch, a water heater, bed springs and a small safe. Another three dozen volunteers on shore separated items for recycling or disposal during the clean-up on Saturday.

The project was organized the city of Iowa City and sanctioned by the American Rivers National River Cleanup program.