Category: events

LJRA Annual Banquet

LITTLE JUNIATA RIVER ASSOCIATION SUMMER BANQUET

At the River’s Edge Lodge

Saturday, June 13th 2026 4-8pm

Social gathering from 4-6 PM, dinner served from 6-7:30 PM. Cash bar available

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW! (45.00 per person)

DEADLINE TO PURCHASE TICKETS BY CHECK OR PAYPAL: June 5th

To purchase tickets visit: https://www.littlejuniata.net/banquet-payment/

Send checks to: Little Juniata Rver Assoc. 326 Hobbit Hollow Road Altoona, PA 16601 checks must be received by June 5th.

LJRA members and a guest are invited to attend

River’s Edge Lodge is located directly on the Little Juniata River. This is an excellent opportunity to fish the ‘j’ after dinner and connect with other members. Please note: Parking on site is very limited. Guests should park at the Spruce Creek Church and walk or use the shuttle.

River’s Edge Lodge 5359 Blue Hill Lane   Spruce Creek, PA

Click here for directions: (https://tinyurl.com/2x6h7th6)

We will present the annual ‘friend of the river’ award to an exemplary steward of the river. The recipient will be determined by the LJRA directors and awarded to the individual who has substantially represented the mission of the association.

 

 

 

BANQUET MENU-from 2026

Provided by Holland Bros. Hollidaysburg PA

Veggie Tray
Roast beef wrapped asparagus 

Pig Roast 
Bread and sausage stuffing
BBQ Chicken Breast, Leg and Thigh Mixture
Bermuda Blend Veggies 
Scalloped Potatoes  
German Potato Salad
Caesar Tortellini Salad
BBQ and Tiger Sauce
Dinner rolls with butter
Tea / Coffee
Cheesecake with Toppings 

2026 River Bank Clean-up

On April 11th more than 150 volunteers cleaned 20 miles of riverbank and pullouts of 50 tires and one and half rolloff dumpsters of trash.

Thanks to Burgemeiers Hauling for donating the dumpsters and waiving disposal fees,  the Spruce Creek Church for a great hot lunch and Tastykake for treats.

 

A gallery of pictures can be found here

Eric Oliver selected for 2024 Friend of the River Award

Eric with the Directors of the LJRA

Eric Oliver received the 2024 Friend of the River Award at the LJRA banquet held on June 8th. Eric has been involved in and led many water monitoring projects in the watershed, including at Bells Gap Run and at the Rutter’s construction site. His monitoring efforts at the Rutter’s site are particularly noteworthy and have led to fines and corrections during its construction. He was instrumental in writing grants to fund the monitoring effort. Congratulations, Eric, and we are lucky to have such a dedicated friend of the river.

19th Annual Riverbank Clean Up.

 

Over 100 volunteers filled two 40 ft. dumpsters with litter and some tires were collected from 30 miles of waterway. This is the 19th year of the clean up. High water and a power outage did not deter dedicated volunteers. Once again, Spruce Creek United Methodist Church provided a delicious lunch for the volunteers. Tastykake donated treats.  Read about the event in The PA environment daily here.

A photo gallery is provided courtesy of Beth Intoccia, Chairperson Litter Lifters of West Vincent. 

LJRA clean up

Little Juniata River Association 14th Annual River Bank Clean-up

The Little Juniata River Association will hold its 14thAnnual River Bank Clean-up on Saturday, April 6th.  LJRA members and volunteers will meet at the Spruce Creek United Methodist Church parking lot at 8:30 am where ladies from the church will serve drinks and treats from Tastykake.  Each year, the LJRA leads more than 200 volunteers, including scouts, church groups and office groups, in a stream bank clean-up. There is also an upper river meeting point at the New Pig Corp. parking lot near Tipton for those who prefer to clean-up closer to Altoona.  The clean-up will be followed by a lunch hosted by the Spruce Creek United Methodist Church around noon.

In all more than 20 miles of stream banks and roadside pull-offs from Bellwood to Barree are visited.  Anyone who wishes to lead a group or participate as an individual, can contact Bill Anderson at 814 684 5922 or bjuniata@verizon.net, or simply show up in the church parking or the New Pig parking lot, at 8:30 am on April 6th. Bags, gloves and water will be furnished.

2019 Member’s Banquet

 

Annual LJRA Winter Banquet 

The Little Juniata River Association held its winter banquet on January 26th, 2019. Charlie Hoyer was posthumously awarded the 2nd Annual Friend of the River Award. Charlie’s widow Marge Hoyer received the award, and framed print of the J. Charlie served a number of years as Treasurer of the LJRA and was one of the earliest members of the organization. Charlie had many interests, but has a particular passion for the outdoors.  

 

Re-scheduled clean up

2018 River Bank Clean-up

Saturday, July 21st, 9:00 am to noon

This is a make-up date for the April 7th clean up that was cancelled due to snow.

Meet at the Spruce Creek United Methodist Church parking lot at 8:30AM.  Groups (church, office, clubs, etc.) are welcome. We will clean-up river banks and parking areas from Altoona to Barree. All bags, gloves and vests furnished.  More people with waders are needed.

 

Gorge float clean up

Natural Area (Gorge) River Bank Float Clean-up

some of the items pulled out of the Gorge by boaters in 2014
some of the items pulled out of the Gorge by boaters in 2014

The boating and kayaking members of the LJRA once again are organizing a float cleanup of the Little Juniata Natural Area from the Spruce Creek Church to Barree on Saturday, May 7th, 9:00 am to noon. Meet at the Spruce Creek United Methodist Church parking lot at 8:45 AM. Groups (church, office, clubs, etc.) are welcome.   We will have johnboats and canoeists for hauling the trash but need kayakers and hikers to access the riverbanks. Car shuttle service provided. All bags, gloves and vests furnished by LJRA. (we go rain/snow or wind)

Download a printable flyer

Contact: John Corr  johncorr51@gmail.com or Bill Anderson  bjuniata@verizon.net

LJRA Riverbank clean up

LJRA 2016 Riverbank cleanup

Thanks to all!

Cleanup

It didn’t go as planned and the final stages have yet to be completed, but the 11th Annual LJRA bank clean up was a success!   Volunteers collected 61 tires and filled 1.5 large roll-away dumpsters so far. The major work was done on April 16th, but different groups who could not attend the make up date organized or will organize on the following weekends.

April 23rd: Angie Spagnoli (PSU-Altoona) organized a group of students to clean Spring Run in Altoona, the uppermost headwater of the LJ. They filled more than 130 garbage bags full of trash and lots of other large objects. This was the first time the clean up extended that far up the watershed. Great job PSU-Altoona

April 30th: Boy scouts will clean the upper river

May 7th: Our boating members and their friends are planning to float the Gorge area and clean areas inaccessible by foot

Thanks to Spruce Creek United Methodist Church for the great lunch, Sheetz Co for bottled water, Tastykake Co. for treats and Veederoot Co. for a monetary donation and commitment of labor

If you are interested in helping with the remaining stages of the clean up email bjuniata@verizon.net.