San Antonio Launches Innovative Project to Clean Up Creeks and Reduce Litter

San Antonio Takes a Smart Step to Clean Up Its Creeks!

Hey there, San Antonio! If you love the city’s stunning creekway trails, you’re in for some exciting news. It looks like keeping those waterways nice and clean just got a whole lot easier! Recently, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, revealing a new and innovative pilot project aimed at tackling the troublesome litter issue in our lovely creeks.

Time to Say Goodbye to Trash!

Precinct Four County Commissioner Tommy Calvert kicked off the initiative with a ceremonial ribbon cut on that sunny Friday afternoon. Here’s the scoop: a fresh system will float across Salado Creek and help take out junk from our precious waters. With this innovative technology, the workload for the volunteers — who have been doing all the hard and muddy work — is about to get a massive cut!

Calvert was excited to share, “With this net, we’re going to be able to capture just as much as 100 volunteers do on a given Saturday or Sunday.” Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?

Two for One: Less Effort, More Impact

Let’s meet Charles Blank, the go-getter from River Aid San Antonio, who leads many fantastic cleanup efforts around the area. He chimed in, saying, “These systems are going to enable two people to do what would have taken ten people three times the amount of time.” Talk about efficiency!

But how does this magical trash-capturing system work? The brains behind the operation is Yael Girard, the project leader from Osprey Initiative. According to her, those floating barriers, aka litter booms, work by gathering up all that annoying litter floating near the surface of the creek. Girard explains, “Most of that is what we find in the rivers: Styrofoam cups, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, bags, film, food packaging…you name it!”

Teaming Up for Clean Waterways

It’s great to know that this project is not only about technology but teamwork too! Girard emphasized the importance of partnerships in making this plan a success. “I don’t think you can overstate the value of partners,” she said. In the heart of Bexar County, this year-long pilot project received sponsorship from *Coca-Cola Company* and *Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages*. How cool is that?

Making Waves for a Greener Tomorrow

Abraham Tueme, the Director of Sustainability at Coca-Cola, echoed similar sentiments about reducing plastic pollution. He pointed out how essential it is to create awareness: “It’s really a way we can help reduce the challenge around plastic pollution. Nature is beautiful, and it’s our responsibility to keep it that way.” Ain’t that the truth?

Investing in Our Natural Beauty

Calvert expressed confidence that this pilot will spread like wildfire across the county and beyond. He was passionate about keeping our waterways clean, calling it an “investment in our natural beauty, our own health, and our safety.” He gave a huge shout-out to organizations like River Aid and all the volunteers, saying, “If it weren’t for them, we’d have a lot more trash in these waterways!”

Ready, Set, Clean!

The booms have already been deployed along Salado Creek next to the Howard W. Peak Trail in Comanche County Park and Martin Luther King Park. Volunteers will regularly check the booms and remove any trash they find. Plus, they’re designed to break free during heavy water flow events to prevent any flooding issues. Smart thinking!

Get Involved!

If you’re interested in keeping our local waterways clean, head over to the River Aid San Antonio website for more info on how you can help. Together, let’s keep our stunning creeks and rivers in San Antonio trash-free! Let’s make a difference, one boom at a time!