2006 Creek Clean-up
On September 16, 2006, over 700 dedicated volunteers dragged, unearthed, hoisted and hauled 350 tires mixed with 50 discarded appliances, several tons of scrap metal, 40 pieces of furniture, and other debris totaling 50 tons from the otherwise pristine Churn Creek corridor. Representatives from the Cities of Redding and Shasta Lake, Shasta County, California Department of Fish and Game, Western Shasta Resource Conservation District, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and Redding Rotary worked side-by-side with dedicated community members.
Seventeen miles of Churn Creek and portions of several tributaries were cleaned out during a roughly 4-hour period, demonstrating a tremendous level of community support, cooperation, and stewardship.
Numerous volunteers who participated on the project reported a true sense of accomplishment. They could see the piles of debris they removed and the improvements they made to the watershed. One-third of the volunteers were under 18; some joining in the effort for extra-credit at school, others for the satisfaction of community service for Churn Creek.
The volunteer lunch and raffle immediately after the event gave the volunteers the opportunity not only to be recognized for their efforts, but to also connect with their fellow volunteers, sharing their stories of the day. This celebration further fostered the sense of community established by connecting people to their environment, demonstrating the watershed concept, and connecting citizens for a shared cause.
Photos
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