Being designated as a State Scenic River, the Kokosing is kept clean by numerous volunteer efforts. Each year the Knox County Recycling and Litter Prevention hosts a “river rally” as a “cleanup” effort to remove trash and debris from the river and its corridor. Much of what is found can be recycled. Here are some stats from the 2018 event;

*5.36 tons of trash were removed from the river 
*2.44 tons was recycled 
*equates to 45% of the material removed from the river was recycled
*the cleanup encompassed 27 miles of the river
*155 tires were taken to Liberty Tires Recycling located in Grove City, Ohio
*1,400 lbs. or 7 tons of scrap metal was recycled. 
*Mattresses have been also been collected from the river from illegal dumping 

This location of the geocache trail is excellent for fishing as many of the species enjoy the deeper pools and cooler water temperatures due to the riparian forests along the river corridor. What did you think of the geocache container? Fishing is a popular activity in our State Scenic rivers. The efforts of those who participate in our annual River Rally contribute to keeping our fish healthy. Collecting trash from the river is a good practice for conservation efforts to protect water quality and aquatic habitat. Many entities are involved in this project from American Kayakers and Paddle for Heroes to Knox County Park District and Ohio EPA. 
 
As you walk across the bridge, imagine what it looked like in 1915 as it was constructed by the Mount Vernon Bridge Company. Many years later, the bridge was revitalized by the Knox County Engineer and awarded a “Historic Bridge” designation in 2011. 

Knox Community Hospital’s Koko the Owl says “water first for thirst”, Hydration is very important as you are geocaching, fishing, or kayaking. Sugary drinks like sodas can dehydrate you. Soda doesn’t replace any of the water you lose because it increases your body’s urine, it makes dehydration worse. One 12 ounce soda contains 45 milligrams of caffeine, which is double the amount of caffeine in a standard cup of coffee. Click link below to hear from Koko!