Pullman folks willing to keep waterways clean

More than 200 people are expected to meet Saturday at Spring Street Park in Pullman to clean up the city’s streams by removing trash and debris in an annual event that falls on Earth Day this year.

The 13th annual Pullman Stream Clean-Up will begin at 10 a.m. at the park, where participants will sign in, munch on some complimentary breakfast foods and receive team assignments before boarding Pullman Transit buses at 10:30. Buses will transport volunteers to points along the South Fork of the Palouse River, Missouri Flat Creek and Paradise Creek, covering approximately 5 miles of streams.

During the past 12 years, participants have been responsible for the removal of more than 100 cubic yards of trash and recyclables from Pullman’s waterways.

The event is sponsored by the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute, which has partnered with the city of Pullman Stormwater Services in sponsorship since 2010.

“We’ve determined it’s a priority for spending those stormwater dollars because it amounts to a direct improvement to our local streams,” said Rob Buchert, Stormwater Services program manager for the city of Pullman.

In the early years of the event, older items like bed springs, tires and barbecue grills were more commonly found in the local streams. Now, less trash is being collected and any trash that is found is more often blown in by the wind, Buchert said.

That decrease, he said, could be the result of many factors – not just because of the annual event. He said individuals and organizations are working to keep the streams clean year-round as part of the Pullman Adopt-A-Stream Program, founded in 2011 as a collaboration between PCEI, the city of Pullman and private landowners.

On Saturday, trash will be collected in 10- and 20-cubic-yard bins provided at by Pullman Disposal and weighed to determine how much is collected.

“We’re able to get out and pull that material out of the rivers and keep it so it doesn’t end up downstream to Albion, Colfax, ultimately the Pacific Ocean,” Buchert said.

Amanda Argona, outreach coordinator for PCEI, said the sun is expected to be out Saturday, though volunteers have been encouraged to dress for unpredictable weather conditions and wear closed-toe shoes.

Argona said getting children and families involved in clean-up at a young age can keep them involved and aware as they get older.

“I think it’s a tangible thing that participants, when they come out, they know they’re making a lasting impact,” Argona said.