Efforts underway to cleanup the Mahoning River - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Efforts to clean up the Mahoning River are taking place with a local community calling on your support to obtain grant money needed for this project.

Members of the Trumbull Canoe Trails Paddling Club and Friends of the Mahoning River have been pulling tree limbs out of the water near the dock outside the B&O Station in Youngstown.

Their plans are to resurface the dock so it's useable for fishermen and others, and to and create a recreational water trail for people to canoe and kayak from the Girard dam to the Pennsylvania state line.

"Loweville has taken the first steps and stepped up and they applied for the application to get their dam removed or modified and then also dredged and clean up the river 2.3 miles up to the Struthers line," said Chuck Miller, Friends of the Mahoning River.

"By modifying or moving we can put in a rapid, a low tame rapid that opens up the river. By opening the river up you add more flow, more oxygen in the water and eventually wildlife will come back with the paddling. It goes hand in hand," said Michael Danko, Trumbull Canoe Trails Paddling Club.

Lowellville is on the short list for a 2.3 Million dollar grant, but obtaining that funding will be based on community support.

To help Lowellville with that grant money, mail a letter of support for the Lowellville Dam Removal Project to:

Scott Nally

Ohio EPA

P.O. Box 1049

Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049

Letters must be received by March 18th.