Last Updated on January 30, 2024
Estimated Read Time: 3.5 Minutes
Happy Fall from the River Authority!
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been one year since the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) launched the “Don’t Let Litter Trash Your River” initiative to inspire the community to achieve trash-free waterways in the San Antonio River Basin. Thank you to everyone who has joined the River Authority in supporting this crucial initiative. Although the Public Trash indicator remains at an “F” for the third year in a row, there are signs that the message of this initiative has contributed to an awareness of our watershed’s litter pollution problem.
Many concerned citizens, including River Warrior volunteers, local businesses, schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, and even members of the San Antonio Spurs, have stepped up to take care of our local creeks and the San Antonio River. In the past year, these dedicated community members have removed more than 10,000 lbs. of trash from local waterways and documented observations of over 28,000 pieces of litter on the Litterati app.
Celebrate some success stories with us below!
This year on September 17th, National Clean-up Day, American Rivers partnered with the local JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) staff and the River Authority to do a litter clean-up along the San Antonio River. 18 members from JPMC collected 250 lbs. of trash and 6 full bags of recyclables at Acequia Park along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Walk. Thank you for being so dedicated to local creeks and rivers!
On National Clean-up Day, the River Authority invited running groups from around San Antonio to participate in a plogging event, “Take It & Run With It,” at local parks. The global phenomenon first took off in Sweden and has since grown in popularity. Local running groups, including Downtown Run Group, as well as other individual participants, filled 32 bags of trash and even picked up old tires! Thanks for participating and keeping our creeks and rivers clean!
Let’s hear it for the San Antonio Spurs! Team members Tre Jones, Dominick Barlow, and recent Hall of Fame inductee Manu Ginobili recently spent a day with the River Authority kayaking the Mission Reach and picking up some litter along the way. Talk about a SLAM DUNK!
Take me to the river! Members of the newly formed River Warrior Paddling Crew, armed with River Authority-branded bags, are currently picking trash on the waterways from their kayaks. If you are interested in joining the crew, please email volunteer@sariverauthority.org
How can I keep the river litter-free this fall?
Did you know that leaves and grass clippings from yard work can harm the health of local waterways?
Yard clippings blown or raked into the street are full of nutrients. When they are carried by stormwater runoff into our local waterways, the nutrients in these clippings, as well as the chemical in fertilizers and pesticides, can lead to algae blooms and fish kills. Instead, mulch your yard clippings or put them into the compost bin. The river organisms thank you!
Join the River Warriors for Fall 2022 River Clean-ups
Two river clean-ups are planned this fall along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Walk.
- November 18th, 2022 | 10am to 12pm
- December 16th, 2022 | 10am to 12pm
To participate, you need to first sign up to become a River Warrior
Don’t Let Litter Trash Your River!
Sign Up for the River Reach
River Reach is a quarterly, 12-page newsletter that is designed to inform the San Antonio River Authority’s constituents about the agency’s many projects, serve as a communication vehicle for the board of directors and foster a sense of unity and identity among the residents of Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties.
If you wish to be placed on the mailing list for River Reach, please contact us or complete the form.
