THE SPRING CLEANUP

April 11, 2026 | 9-11am

The Spring Cleanup: Recap

April 11, 2026

Rain did not stop 75 volunteers from showing up for The Spring Cleanup across seven Eastern Travis County Parks.

Working through wet grass, park paths, creek edges—and even in the creek—they removed 471.78 pounds of large and small trash and recycling from our watershed.

The rain made the impact clear. When it rains, trash moves through our parks, into creeks, and eventually into the Texas Colorado River. By removing it here, volunteers helped stop it before it could travel further.

Thank you to everyone who showed up. This community came together to care for these spaces and protect what flows downstream. You helped keep our parks, our River, and our drinking water clean and healthy.

7 Locations:

Barkley Meadows Park
Ben Fisher Park
East Metro Park
Northeast Metro Park
Richard Moya Park
Southeast Metro Park
Webberville Park

Photo contest winners

Congratulations to our photo contest winners!

MOST BOTTLE CAPS
369 bottle caps
Eric P.

MOST UNUSUAL OBJECT
Tortoise shell
Ryan P.

DIRTIEST VOLUNTEER
Proving a little dirt won’t hurt!
Yevhenii H.

SURPRISE PRIZES!
One volunteer from each site won their very own Yogi Bin by helping complete a litter audit for Keep Texas Beautiful’s Texas Litter Database.

Photo contest prizes

MOST BOTTLE CAPS
Patagonia Terravia Pack 22L

MOST UNUSUAL OBJECT
Patagonia Terravia Pack 22L

DIRTIEST VOLUNTEER
CRA Swag Bag including CRA t-shirt, Longhorn Dam Vision 2085 poster, River Society hat, and a Patagonia Merganzer hat, all packaged in a CRA tote bag.

SURPRISE PRIZE
Yogi Bin Litter Gitter

Check out the cleanup fun

About The Spring Cleanup

A community event for all ages!

Started in 2021 by Colorado River Alliance and Travis County Parks, The Spring Cleanup brings together local organizations and volunteers to clean up parks and waterways east of downtown Austin.

This community cleanup will take place across beautiful Travis County Parks in East Austin, Pflugerville, Manor, Del Valle, and Webberville. We need people of all ages to help remove trash from downstream parks and creeks—areas that have a significant impact on the Texas Colorado River Basin.

Thank you to our Lead Sponsor

Thank you In-kind Donors

Gulf Kolach

H-E-B

Keep Nature Wild

Patagonia

Rambler

Twisted X

Yogi Bins

The Spring Cleanup Brought to You By:

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Colorado River Alliance Legacy Leaders

Your generosity and support are essential to the mission of Colorado River Alliance. Thank you for championing the long-term vitality of the Texas Colorado River.

“A healthy, flowing Texas Colorado River is imperative to the well-being of millions of people throughout the river basin. Big volunteer days like the Lake Travis Cleanup are a great way to remind folks that Lake Travis is part of the river system – we are all connected via the River. I’m so excited to see toddlers and teenagers out here today because I’m hopeful they will grow-up with an appreciation for our Lakes and Rivers and a desire to be a river steward and protector.”
Adrienne Longenecker, Executive Director of Colorado River Alliance

In Memoriam:
Sr. Deputy Jessica L. Hollis

Jessica was swept away while checking a low water crossing in her patrol car on September 18, 2014. She loved the Lake Travis Cleanup and 2014 was her second year participating. We will miss her very much. Jessica is pictured above with Travis County Sherrif’s Office Lake Patrol Dive Captain Jose Escribano.