Less trash equals ‘good problem’

Sara Havenstein and Alex Eng with Florida Springs Scuba, who were among the estimated 100 volunteers at the 2026 Rainbow River Conservation River Clean Up Day on May 16, 2026, look over some of the debris brought in, including a “Woody” figurine from the “Toy Story” movie. [Photo by Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]

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Posted May 18, 2026 | By Andy Fillmore, [email protected]

A “Woody” plastic toy action figure from the “Toy Story” movie, minus his signature cowboy hat, and an underwater scooter, were among the items dredged up during the 2026 Rainbow River Conservation River Clean Up Day on May 15, 2026, near Dunnellon.  

By all accounts, the trash haul from the Rainbow River appears to dwindle every year. All of the materials collected on Saturday covered only the floor of a small utility trailer, as opposed to overflowing piles in some earlier years. 

“That’s a good problem,” one unidentified participant commented about finding less trash. 

The “Woody” figurine, a dual motor underwater scooter that can tow a diver and other materials like a cell phone ,bottles and plastic containers — which are not allowed on the river by county ordinance — were gathered by about 100 volunteers who left from Rio Vista Park just north of Dunnellon and scoured the river south of Rainbow Springs State Park.

RRC President Jerry Rogers praised a “good turnout.” He said the River Clean Up Day has been held since at least 1994. 

RRC, a volunteer operated nonprofit, was established in 1962 with a goal of protecting the Rainbow River and its ecology, according to rainbowriverconservation.org 

The group has developed Blue Run Park and worked with “the city, water management district and state DEP on measures to enhance the ecosystem,” the website states. 

“RRC works for changes in state environmental policy to better protect flows and water quality,” according to the website. Its initiatives include building and maintaining 47 wood duck boxes on the river.    

A representative of the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection was on hand for the event. The representative said the office worked with RRC to establish an aquatic preserve along the river.  

The website floridaaquaticpreserves.org lists the Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve as 164 acres and states the 5.7 mile long Rainbow River flows to the Withlacoochee, which empties into the Gulf of America. 

Seven of the 11 members of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Underwater Recovery Team and about two dozen divers with Florida Springs Scuba of Williston joined the clean-up. Volunteers used boats and kayaks. 

MCSO Deputy Matt Hooper said the recovery team participating in the annual event is an opportunity for “training and to connect with the community.” 

Hooper said the apparent lesser amount of trash is a “good thing.” A member of the team recovered the “Woody” toy. 

Bill White, former mayor of Dunnellon, recognized volunteers for special categories of collected items, including Madison Trowbridge for the “most unusual item,” the underwater scooter. 

White accepted a $200 donation to RRC from the Florida Springs Scuba group.   

Volunteers enjoyed a hot dog lunch after the clean-up.   

Sara Havenstein and Alex Eng with Florida Springs Divers were among the volunteers. 

Havenstein dove for about two hours around KP Hole Park and other areas and collected items including a dragonfly ornament.  

“(The river) looks good, clean,” she said.   

Members of Florida Springs Scuba presented a donation to Rainbow River Conservation to former Dunnellon mayor Bill White during the May 16 River Clean Up Day at Rio Vista Park north of Dunnellon.   [Photo by Andy Fillmore/Ocala Gazette]