Grant to fund city stream cleanup efforts
Juneau Watershed Partnership to triple its volunteer days
Grant funding will help a nonprofit make a bigger difference in the health of Juneau's streams and lakes.
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The Juneau Watershed Partnership received $1,859 from the Alaska Community Foundation that will allow volunteers to participate in more clean-up days during the warm months.
The support will raise the number of clean-ups from two per year to six.
Juneau resident Teri Camery recalled a past event when four volunteers hauled a television out of Vanderbilt Creek and up the bank behind Costco.
While it's dirty work to pick up other people's trash, Camery dedicates volunteer time to the things she cares about, pointing out that many locals kayak and fish.
"Trash is a huge problem in Juneau," she said. "The more clean-up efforts we can get, the better."
The grant originated with the Elmer and Ruth Schwantes Fund. It was one of 18 Alaska Community Foundation awards given for community projects around the state. About $64,000 was donated, according to the announcement on Dec. 27.
The money will pay for supplies such as gloves, hand sanitizer and litter pick-ups, as well as garbage disposal. Trash is separated during the events and then recycled or brought to the landfill.
The organization estimates volunteers picked up more than 200 tons of trash over the years. While efforts focused on Jordan, Vanderbilt and Duck creeks last year, Montana and Switzer creeks, and possibly Sandy Beach, will be added this summer.
The money provides the means for the work, said Executive Director Beverly Anderson, but motivation comes easy in Juneau.
"You can't stop people from cleaning up," Anderson said, remembering when volunteers extracted a basketball hoop from a wetland.
This year marks the organization's 10th in Juneau. It started as the Mendenhall Watershed Partnership and in 2006 changed it name and scope. Now, it will look at a geographical area from Taku River to Berners Bay.
"Five streams to 161 streams is a huge leap," Anderson said. The group is especially interested in the Taku River watershed and Douglas Island. "It's exciting to have all these new opportunities open to us."
Clean-up projects will begin in April or May, depending on when the snow melts. Anderson bases location decisions on public feedback about which areas need it. She can be reached at jwp@alaska.net.
• Contact Kim Marquis at 523-2279 or kim.marquis@juneauempire.com.