Annual Anchorage Creek Cleanup Nets 8,000 Pounds of Trash

Annual Anchorage Creek Cleanup Nets 8,000 Pounds of Trash

Volunteers post with their grabbers and yellow bags full of trash at an estuary surrounded by trees.
Cleaning up the Great Land Trust Fish Creek Estuary

All hands were on deck during the Anchorage Waterways Council’s 39th Annual Creek Cleanup this spring. The event spanned 10 days–enough for over 450 volunteers to find time to clean seven creeks, eight lakes, and the always-popular Westchester Lagoon. The results were outstanding, with 800 bags of trash collected, totaling approximately four tons.

The Annual Creek Cleanup continues to be a shining example of community involvement, from the non-profit Anchorage Waterways Council that organizes it to the community members who appreciate the local waters and make the time to care for them. As part of the Caring for Alaska program, Matson joined the effort by providing supplies such as reusable gloves, trash pickers, and safety vests and a $10,000 grant in support of the Anchorage Waterways Council’s mission.

The Anchorage Waterway Council’s Executive Director, Cherie Northon, echoed the event’s continued success:

A woman wearing rubber boots, a gray backpack, work gloves, and a bright green shirt stands in a creek with a grabber and yellow plastic bag to pick up trash.
Midnight Sun Environmental volunteer, Jovanna Karapandzic, at Little Campbell Creek.

“For 39 years, lovers of Anchorage's wonderful waterways have ventured out every spring to give them a good cleanup. Over the years, more than 50 tons of debris and trash have been removed, leaving local creeks and lakes ready for all who enjoy nature watching, kayaking/rafting, fishing, and other water activities. A huge thank you is owed to those individuals, families, and teams and the events’ financial supporters, such as Matson. This would not happen without them.

“When you see dozens of people, of all ages, on our shores, creek banks, and even on their kayaks and rafts, each holding ever-growing orange bags, it is undeniable how much we all ‘care for Alaska.’”