By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATAVIA - Because of anticipated increases in Ohio River levels, a scheduled cleanup of the shores has been postponed.

The annual Ohio River Sweep, now in it 15th year, was to be held Saturday.

The event has been put off until July 12.

While river levels along the shores of communities in Clermont County are well below flood stage, officials said the predicted levels are considered "dangerously high."

According to the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service, by Saturday the river at the Meldahl Dam, one of the cleanup sites, will be 35 to 39 feet.

At other spots along the Ohio River, from Portsmouth to Cincinnati, river levels are expected to be between 30 and 40 feet.

Each year about 23,000 volunteers participate in the event, which is organized by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, a water pollution control agency for the Ohio River Basin.

More than 100 counties in six states participate with volunteers from Pittsburgh to central Illinois.

Volunteers are still needed for sites in Clermont County in Moscow, Chilo and New Richmond. Work begins at about 9 a.m. with lunch and refreshments provided.

For more information, call the Clermont County Office of Environmental Quality 732-7894.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com