2023 Great Community Cleanup, Truckee River Cleanup, Adopt-A-River Program, & Adult and Community Education Program

Project Description:

KTMB supports a clean, invasive-weed-free community by educating residents and visitors about the importance of maintaining a healthy watershed and the efficacy of removing litter and invasive weeds to do so. Local park staff report to KTMB that weed removal is often the most challenging aspect of their job. With current staff shortages, the incorporation of weed removal projects prior to weed seeding in the spring is vital and aligns perfectly with the timing of KTMB’s Great Community Cleanup. KTMB’s Truckee River Cleanup and Adopt-A-River Cleanups educate and engage the community about the presence of weeds, litter, and nonpoint pollution runoff in our watershed and the underlying causes of these challenges. According to Keep America Beautiful, “About 85% of littering is the result of people’s attitudes. Changing individual behaviors is the key to preventing litter — and environmental cues can make a difference.” By engaging volunteers and community partners in this effort, and by having consistent outreach and messaging to support behavior change, KTMB is helping to better protect the invaluable water resources of the Truckee River.

TMWA Benefit:

This project supports Grant Priorities:

V: Support to Rehabilitation of Local Tributary Creeks and Drainage Courses – KTMB will support water quality improvement of local tributary creeks and drainage courses through the GCC, TRC, and Adopt-A-River cleanup programs. These events will engage hundreds of volunteers to remove many tons of litter and green waste from many locations along the Truckee River Corridor and greater watershed.

VI: Stewardship and Environmental Awareness – This project will raise environmental awareness about water, water quality, and watershed protection by utilizing multi-media resources and educational/community presentations to educate residents and visitors about the importance of maintaining a healthy river; how noxious weeds negatively affect native plant communities; and how litter and pollution are harmful to humans, wildlife, and the local environment and economy.

VII: Meet Multiple Objectives – This project meets multiple TRF objectives because it will remove pollution and invasive weeds from our water through cleanups and beautification projects, increase the community’s ecological literacy about water quality and conservation through messaging and education, and promote volunteerism to increase environmental stewardship.

VIII: Leverage Stakeholder Assets and Participation – KTMB will collaborate with numerous municipalities, businesses, community groups, and partners to complete the cleanup and education projects proposed. Project sites and activities along the river will be identified by KTMB and local experts and completed with planning and day-of support from partners to ensure effective programming. Together, KTMB and partners will create a cleaner community while saving taxpayer dollars.

KTMB’s 2022 Great Community Cleanup, Truckee River Cleanup, and Adopt-A-River program will also support the following One Truckee River Management Plan objectives.

KTMB’s Adult and Community Education efforts will also support the following One Truckee River Management Plan objectives.