Get Involved in Earth Month: Register Now for the April 13 Christina River Watershed Cleanup

The Christina River Watershed Cleanup includes sites accessed by water, such as the Newport Boat Ramp site./DNREC photo.

Registration is now open for the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup, rallying volunteers to join the effort on Saturday, April 13. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, in partnership with the Christina Conservancy and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the cleanup marks the 32nd year hundreds of volunteers will pick up trash at sites across New Castle County as part of Earth Month activities in Delaware.

The cleanup, scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m., will span more than 12 sites from Brandywine Hundred south through Glasgow and Bear. Cleanup volunteers are encouraged to register now through Friday, April 5, on the volunteer tab at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org. Volunteers registered for the cleanup will be provided with gloves, trash bags and safety vests to use during the cleanup. As a thank you, volunteers will receive a Christina River Watershed Cleanup vehicle trash bag or other cleanup swag items while supplies last.

Last April, the Christina River Watershed Cleanup mobilized more than 750 volunteers to pick up 13 tons of trash, tires and recyclables at a dozen sites in New Castle County. The initiative not only focuses on cleaning up but also on educating the community about the importance of maintaining clean and healthy waterways throughout the year.

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin highlighted the cleanup as a cornerstone of Delaware’s ongoing environmental initiatives, including Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free campaign.

“As part of our mission to keep trash out of Delaware’s waterways and landscapes, and to educate residents and visitors about cleaning up all year round, DNREC hosts two large-scale cleanups each year,” said Secretary Garvin. “With the statewide Delaware Coastal Cleanup not till September, the Christina River Watershed Cleanup in April focuses on a variety of sites in New Castle County as part of DNREC’s celebration of Earth Month – and what better time to support Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free campaign.”

Cleanup Coordinator Shirley Posey emphasized the event’s long-standing commitment to improving the Christina River Watershed and its surroundings.

“This is the 32nd year for the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup, and we hope to collect – or surpass – our annual average of 15 tons of trash, from piles of tires and appliances to household items and uncountable pieces of plastic,” said Posey. “With 10 cleanup sites this year, we are focused on restoring the health of the river and its watersheds. We invite everyone to join us for another successful cleanup on April 13.”

To further engage the community, volunteers are invited to share their cleanup experiences on social media for a chance to win a 2024 Delaware State Parks annual pass. Each photo shared with @ChristinaCleanup or @CRWCleanup with the #ChristinaRiverCleanup hashtags will count as an entry. Information about the 2024 Christina River Watershed Cleanup will also be posted on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

The event organizers also offered reminders and safety tips for participants, to include:

Know your limitations and be aware of possibly hazardous areas, including along roadways, streambanks, and steep or slippery slopes.
Dress appropriately for the weather, with sturdy shoes or boots that can get dirty.
Always Recycle Right. Items with lots of dirt or grit attached or inside should be placed in the trash.
As encouraged by Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free initiative, make every day a cleanup day — not just once a year — by packing a disposable bag and rubber or garden gloves whenever you take a walk or go hiking, to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.

Additionally, volunteers are advised to avoid these actions when cleaning up:

Don’t enter private property without permission of the landowner.
Don’t place yourself in any danger while volunteering for the Christina River Watershed Cleanup.
For any independent cleanup volunteers participating, don’t collect any trash that your household waste hauler might not accept. Tires, construction materials, and metal drums may be unacceptable.

More information can be found at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, or by emailing ChristinaRiverCleanup@gmail.com.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, Joanna.wilson@delaware.gov, Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

###

Volunteers Needed for DNREC-Sponsored Christina River Watershed Cleanup April 22

Volunteers at an earlier Christina River Cleanup offload trash and debris collected during the event/DNREC photo.

Registration Open for Event in New Castle County

As part of the 2023 Earth Month celebration in April, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will join the Christina Conservancy and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to mobilize volunteers to pick up trash in northern Delaware during the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup.

The cleanup will be held from 8 to 11 a.m., Saturday, April 22 at 12 sites in northern New Castle County, from Brandywine Hundred south through Glasgow and Bear. Cleanup volunteers are encouraged to register now through Thursday, April 20 on the Volunteer tab at Volunteer.ChristinaRiverCleanup.org.

Volunteers registered for the cleanup will receive gloves, trash bags and safety vests to use for the cleanup, and a Christina River Watershed Cleanup reusable tote bag or a commemorative 30th anniversary t-shirt while supplies last. Registered volunteers are asked to document their findings on the submission link at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, or they may use provided cards.

“Part of DNREC’s mission is to promote ways to keep Delaware’s great outdoors clean and free of trash, an effort that also aligns with Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free campaign,” said Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In addition to encouraging Delawareans and visitors to clean up all year long, we strongly support organized one-day annual cleanups like the Christina River Watershed Cleanup to highlight the importance of keeping trash out of our landscapes and waterways, where it impacts water quality and wildlife, not just the view.”

“This is the 31st year for the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup, and we hope to collect – or surpass – our annual average of 800 volunteers collecting 15 tons of trash, from piles of tires and appliances to household items and uncountable pieces of plastic. With 12 cleanup sites this year, we are focused on restoring the health of the river and watersheds,” said Christina River Watershed Cleanup Coordinator Shirley Posey. “We invite everyone to come on out and join us for another environmentally successful cleanup on April 22.”

For a chance to win a 2023 Delaware State Parks annual pass, volunteers are encouraged to share cleanup photos as often as they like on @ChristinaCleanup; #ChristinaRiverCleanup; or @CRWCleanup. Each photo post counts as an entry. Information about the 2023 Christina River Watershed Cleanup will also be posted on social media at Facebook and Twitter.

Important Reminders for Cleanup Activities:

Know your limitations and be aware of possibly hazardous areas, including along roadways, streambanks, and steep or slippery slopes.
Dress appropriately for the weather, with sturdy shoes or boots that can get dirty.
Always Recycle Right. Items with lots of dirt or grit attached or inside should be placed in the trash.
As encouraged by Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free initiative, make every day a cleanup day — not just once a year — by packing a disposable bag and rubber gloves whenever you take a walk or go hiking, to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.

Avoid These Actions When Cleaning Up:

Don’t enter private property without permission of the landowner.
Don’t place yourself in any danger while volunteering for the Christina River Watershed Cleanup.
For any independent cleanup volunteers participating, don’t collect any trash that your household waste hauler might not accept. Tires, construction materials, and metal drums may be unacceptable.

More information can be found at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, or by emailing ChristinaRiverCleanup@gmail.com.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, Joanna.wilson@delaware.gov, Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

###

Volunteers Needed for Christina River Watershed Cleanup April 2

The Moran family with bags of trash they picked up at the Churchmans Boat Ramp site during the 2021 Christina River Watershed Cleanup.

Registration Open for In-Person Event

As part of the month-long 2022 Earth Day celebration in April, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control joins the Christina Conservancy and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary to mobilize volunteers to pick up trash in northern Delaware during the 30th annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup.

Volunteer registration is now open on the volunteer tab at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, for an in-person event from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 2 at more than 12 sites in northern New Castle County, from Brandywine Hundred south through Glasgow and Bear. Due to the opening of trout season, White Clay Creek State Park will hold its cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 16.

“For 30 years, DNREC has partnered with the Christina Conservancy to focus volunteer efforts on keeping the waterways and watersheds of northern Delaware clean through the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Again this year, volunteers are asked to clean up debris, like cigarette butts, beverage containers, food wrappers and more, that impacts water quality and wildlife, and ultimately ends up in the ocean.”

Volunteers registered for the April cleanup dates will receive 30th anniversary Christina River Watershed Cleanup t-shirts while supplies last at their chosen site. Registered volunteers are asked to document their findings on the submission link at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, or they may use provided paper cards.

Volunteers are encouraged to share cleanup photos as often as they like on facebook.com/ChristinaCleanup for a chance to win a 2022 Delaware State Parks annual pass. Each photo post counts as an entry. Information about the 2022 Christina River Watershed Cleanup will also be posted on social media on Facebook and Twitter.

Cleanup organizers will know by late March if the event must shift from a single-day, in-person affair to a month-long event, due to COVID-19. Their decision will be based on the most current guidance from state public health authorities.

Important Reminders for Cleanup Activities:

Know your limitations and be aware of possibly hazardous areas, including along roadways, streambanks, and steep or slippery slopes.
Dress appropriately for the weather, with sturdy shoes or boots that can get dirty.
Always Recycle Right. Only recycle clean items through curbside recycling or designated drop-off locations. Items with lots of dirt or grit attached or inside should be placed in your household trash.
As encouraged by Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free initiative, make every day a cleanup day — not just once a year — by packing a disposable bag and rubber gloves whenever you take a walk or go hiking, to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.

Avoid These Actions When Cleaning Up:

Don’t enter private property without permission of the landowner.
Don’t place yourself in any danger while volunteering for the Christina River Watershed Cleanup.
For any independent cleanup volunteers participating, don’t collect any trash that your household waste hauler might not accept. Tires, construction materials, and metal drums may be unacceptable.

For more information, visit the Christina River Watershed Cleanup website or email ChristinaRiverCleanup@gmail.com.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, Joanna.wilson@delaware.gov, Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

###