Volunteers remove 3,640 pounds of trash, debris during Geronimo, Alligator creeks clean-up

NEW BRAUNFELS — Ninety-nine volunteers worked to remove 3,640 pounds of trash and debris from 12 miles of roadside areas that drain to area creeks during the recent seventh Annual Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Clean-Up event.

Geronimo Creek, and its tributary Alligator Creek, flows through Comal and Guadalupe counties.  Both were identified for watershed protection plan development due to elevated levels of bacteria and concerns about high levels of nitrogen, as reported in the Texas Water Quality Inventory published by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Miles of roadway and creek banks were cleared of litter and debris by adults, teenagers and children who donated time to help beautify their community.

The event was coordinated by the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Partnership, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority as part of implementation efforts for the area’s watershed protection plan.

Participants met for breakfast tacos, safety briefings and clean up instructions. Event t-shirts, trash bags, gloves, pick-up tools and other supplies were available to volunteers.

“Local businesses, church groups, major corporations, landowners, homeowners and school groups all gave of their time and resources to make this years’ event a real success,” said Ward Ling, AgriLife Extension watershed coordinator, College Station. “Local groups came together to support the event through their financial donations and time, and many formed volunteer teams to assist with the clean-up.

He said area residents came out to pick up trash along roadways that drain to the creeks, as well as along creek banks.

“It was great to see their enthusiasm and determination to make a positive difference,” Ling said.

He said 14 locations representing 12 miles of roadway and creek banks were cleaned, including roads that cross Geronimo and Alligator creeks.

“Volunteers removed 242 bags of trash, 14 tires, several wooden pallets, and debris,” Ling said.

Waste Connections and the City of New Braunfels donated disposal and recycling services for trash collected during the event. Sponsors for the event included Alamo Group, Becker’s Feed & Fertilizer, the City of New Braunfels, Continental Corporation, Crossroads Veterinary Hospital, Commissioner Drew Engelke, Ehlers’ Tree Farm, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, Guadalupe County Groundwater Conservation District, Irma Lewis Seguin Outdoor Learning Center, KWED Radio, Niagara, Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Thrivent Financial, and Waste Connections.

For more information on the project, contact Ling at 979-845-6980 or [email protected] or go to http://www.geronimocreek.org/.

Funding for the effort was provided through a federal Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant administered by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, [email protected]

Contact: Ward Ling, 979-845-6980, [email protected]