You can enjoy the unique waterways of the desert and help ensure their protection and health by joining in a regionwide litter pickup on May 24, 2008, along and in some of the region’s most precious creeks and washes. 

 

This effort is in conjunction with National River Cleanup Day™ hosted by American Rivers. Last year, about 600 tons of garbage was removed from rivers in the United States during this event. At Cienega Creek, just southeast of Tucson, volunteers removed 20 large bags of garbage. These riparian areas are very important in Arizona because they are so rare (less than 2 percent of the total land area), but they are critical for the survival of 60 percent to 75 percent of our wildlife species. We all know how precious water is to our community and the importance of keeping it clean.

 

Tucson cleanup events include:

• Cienega Creek hosted by PAG
• Rincon Creek hosted by the Rincon Institute
• Atterbury Wash & Lakeside Park hosted by Tucson Clean and Beautiful  

Plus each event will receive assistance from the Master Watershed Stewards at the University of Arizona. Please see the link below for more information on each event.

 

To signup to help at a cleanup and find out more information, go to this Web link (http://www.AmericanRivers.org/cleanup) and search AZ. Or, if you plan to clean up your own wash or organize your own event, you can register it on the Web site and receive free trash bags. This is a great way to let others know about the event and to contribute to the regional effort. The Tucson Clean and Beautiful program also has more than 140 different wash opportunities available around town for adoption through the Adopt-a-Wash program.