Charlotte residents, mark your calendars for March 22-29 because that's when Creek Week is happening, and you're invited to join in on the festivities and cleanup efforts. This community-oriented event is orchestrated by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services and its band of partners, geared towards sprucing up the 3,000 miles of creeks weaving through Mecklenburg County. During Creek Week, locals young and old can step up to declutter our streams and dig deeper into the integral roles these waterways play in our ecosystem.
There's a packed schedule with more than 20 activities that range from lunchtime cleanups to educational escapades, and even family story time that's sure to charm the little ones, a tidbit from an event description shared by Mecklenburg County. The week's endgame is The Big Spring Clean on Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. to noon, an annual tradition that sees the community mobilizing in a significant way to tackle litter along the local streams, and it’s a way for neighbors from diverse walks of life to connect over shared environmental stewardship, last year 137 volunteers managed to roundup nearly 20,000 pounds of litter.
Those interested in being the change our creeks need can find more information on how to get involved by visiting StormWater.CharMeck.org and hitting the Creek Week banner. Advanced registration is highly recommended—the goal is to exceed the 200-volunteer mark this time around. By working together, residents can undoubtedly make an even greater impact than they did last year.
Getting down to the brass tacks of the collaborative efforts, this initiative is supported by the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville, as well as several passionate partners which include Catawba Riverkeeper, Carolina Thread Trail, Charlotte Wildlife Stewards, Keep Charlotte Beautiful, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District, and the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, their combined forces are creating a synergy that's bound to foster positive ecological change and help the community take ownership of their natural resources.
