Support Brandon's Mission to Remove Tires from the River

My name is Brandon Bichrest, and I grew up fishing the Androscoggin River in Maine. Since I was a kid, this river has always been part of my life. Back before the year 2000, the Androscoggin carried the lingering smell and heavy pollution left behind from decades of neglect between the 1930s and 1980s. Back then, businesses and residents treated the river as a dumping ground, and the damage was profound.

Fast forward to 2025: the Androscoggin has come a long way. The water runs clearer, fish thrive again, and I’ve been able to build my career guiding fishing trips here in Maine. But beneath the surface, a hidden legacy of that pollution still remains—hundreds of old tires and discarded construction debris sitting deep in the mud and sand. These tires aren’t going anywhere on their own; some are buried up to 20 feet down and require specialized equipment and winching to remove.

So far, I have personally removed 214 tires from the river in my spare time after guiding trips. I’ve also secured connections that allow me to dispose of the tires at no cost. But here’s the challenge: each removal costs me about $8 in gear, equipment use, and time. This kind of heavy work goes far beyond what volunteers can realistically do—we’re not talking about trash pickup along the banks, but deep, dangerous extractions of waste that has been stuck there for generations.

This cleanup project is not about fixing current pollution—it’s about healing old scars. The tires we’re finding were dumped decades ago, from roughly 1930 to 1980. By pulling them out, we’re giving the Androscoggin River the chance to fully recover, for Maine families, local wildlife, and future generations of anglers.

I’m asking for help to continue this work on a larger scale. Every donation directly funds the removal of more tires from the river. At approximately $8 per tire, even a small contribution has a big impact—$40 helps pull five more tires, $80 clears ten.

This river gave me my childhood memories, my career, and my connection to the outdoors. With your support, we can finally give the Androscoggin the respect it deserves.