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Highlights & DATA

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    • 9 days
    • 68 Crews
    • 1,749 volunteers
    • 19.3 tons of trash (38,635.8 lbs.)
    • Over 3,000 trash bags filled
    • 8 communities
    • 21 Sponsors

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11th Annual Creek Week

2024 Facts & Stats

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2024 Summary By Community

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11 Years in Review

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Volunteers

23,249

Groups

864

Tons

171.5

11 Years Totals

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Litter Letter 2024

RENEW

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    • 74 volunteers
    • 5 tons of trash in 2 hours
    • Most littered item:
      • cigarette butts
    • Letters made out of rebar and chicken wire

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7th Annual Litter Letter Facts & Stats

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Over 70 volunteers gathered at America the Beautiful Park to help clean up trash, and we are deeply grateful for their efforts. The litter collected was used to fill large letters creating a powerful visual statement about the impact of pollution.

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This year, the letters spell out R-E-N-E-W standing as a symbol of our commitment to a cleaner watershed.

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The Litter Letters will be on display at America the Beautiful Park through October. We invite you to take a walk along the park or drive by the Cimarron underpass on I-25 to view the installation and be inspired!

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Special thanks to Richards Rubbish Roundup for their collaboration and ongoing cleanup efforts, Poor Richards for the pizza, Solar Roast for keeping us caffeinated with coffee, and Concrete Couch for building and repairing the giant letters.

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We also want to recognize Mile High Youth Corps for installing the letters, the City of Colorado Springs for hauling away truckloads of trash, and the Colorado Springs Police Department for their support.

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Last but not least, thank you to Big Grass Bluegrass for providing live bluegrass music and Cloutier Fotographic for capturing stunning photos of the event!

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Manitou Elementary’s 10th Year of Creek Week

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    • 10th year of Creek Week!
    • 325 volunteers
    • 120 lbs of trash
    • 5 hours
    • Most littered item:
      • cigarette butts
    • Strangest littered item:
      • rear car window
    • Angie presented Stormwater Soup lesson to three 3rd grade classes

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Manitou Elementary

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Presentations:

3rd Grade: Angie Schirtzinger (FCWD) x2

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3rd Grade: Susan Finzel, Pueblo (FCWD) x3

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4th Grade: Jerry Cordova (Colorado Springs Utilities)

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5th Grade: Birgit Landin (Colorado Springs Utilities)

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Most Littered Items

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1. Plastic items (bottles, bags, cups, containers)

2. Cigarette butts

3. Food wrappers/containers

4. Alcohol-related items (beer cans, liquor bottles)

5. Styrofoam

6. Fishing line

7. Clothing

8. Shopping carts and large debris

9. Dog waste

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Site Leader Takeaways

Many shared that Creek Week heightened their awareness of the watershed's condition especially regarding plastic pollution and trash accumulation.

For several participants, the event reinforced the importance of community involvement, environmental stewardship, and understanding the interconnectedness of ecosystems. Many were shocked by the amount of trash they encountered and gained a deeper appreciation for the need to keep waterways clean. Some also noted the event's value in fostering group participation and raising public awareness.

Overall, Creek Week was seen as an eye-opening and positive experience that encourages continued commitment to protecting local watersheds.

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Save the Date for Creek Week 2025!

Sept. 27th - Oct. 5th

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Thank you!