River Clean Up

Art Contest to Design 2024 River Clean Up T-shirt

It’s that time again! UGRA is holding an art contest for Kerr County students K – 12 to design the 2024 River Clean Up T-shirt.

The entry deadline is May 10, 2024.  The theme for this year is “Twenty-One Years Powered by Volunteers!” Since it’s the 21st annual River Clean Up, design your artwork with that in mind. Please incorporate elements in your design related to how you could work in your community to keep our Guadalupe River clean and healthy.

The winner of the contest will receive a $200 prize and the winner’s design and name will be placed on the 2023 River Clean Up T-Shirt.  Also, the winner will be recognized by the UGRA Board of Directors and have their artwork displayed on the UGRA web page.  The artist with the second place design will receive $100 and the artist with the third place design will receive $50.

For guidelines and the entry form, please see the following link:

2024 River Clean Up Art Contest Entry Form

We look forward to seeing all the entries for this year’s contest!

2023 Art Contest

River Clean Up

Every summer, UGRA hosts the River Clean Up to remove trash from the Guadalupe River watershed. It serves as an important reminder that keeping the river clean is a shared, year-round responsibility. Participants work throughout Kerr County to remove trash from swimming holes, water crossings, drainage ditches, creek beds, and roadways. Once trash is collected, volunteers convene to enjoy food, prizes, an ecological fair, and socializing with their fellow volunteers. It is a great opportunity to come together as a community and keep OUR river clean!

21st Annual River Clean Up Announced!

The Upper Guadalupe River Authority has scheduled the 21st annual River Clean Up for Saturday, July 27, 2024. The headquarters for the Clean Up will be at Flat Rock Park in Kerrville. Directions to Flat Rock Park are below.

Volunteers will have the option of arriving at Flat Rock Park at 8:00 am for registration, instructions, and assignments, or you may register by Friday, July 5th. Follow the link below to register online. Groups and individuals are invited to participate in the River Clean Up.  If you choose to register by July 5th, you can pick up your supplies the Monday-Thursday before the event and then go directly to your assigned Clean Up location on the morning of July 27th.

Link to Online Registration (Through July 5th)

Registration Link Banner

The day of the event, all volunteers should return to Flat Rock Park with their trash by 11:00 am and drop it off at the designated area near the boat ramp. Once trash is dropped off, enjoy refreshments, announcements, and the distribution of awards for the most unusual item and the biggest item. Additional garbage drop off locations will be at Guadalupe Park, Louise Hays Park near kayak kiosk, and Lion’s Park near the Center Point Dam. All participants will be entered into a prize drawing and the first 300 registered volunteers will receive an official 21st Annual River Clean Up t-shirt. We will guarantee your requested t-shirt size if you register before June 30, 2024. Additional t-shirts will be given away on a first come basis the morning of the Clean Up.

Even though the River Clean Up is being staged at one location, volunteers will spread out to clean up locations throughout the Guadalupe River watershed in Kerr County including dry creek beds, bridges, and roadways.

What should you bring to the River Clean Up?

Although the River Clean Up is a lot of fun, it is also hard work and you should plan accordingly. Wear a hat and light weight clothing to protect you from the heat and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Wear leather work gloves. UGRA will have a limited quantity of work gloves available for volunteers to borrow, but please bring your own if you can. Wear clothing and shoes that are appropriate for getting wet and dirty. Also, protect yourself from the sun and bugs by applying sunscreen and insect repellent as needed. Bring your own chairs, picnic blankets, or popup tents for relaxing during the event wrap up and prize drawing.

Supplies to aid in the River Clean Up are provided by many generous local sponsors.

The On Your Own (OYO) Clean Up

In 2022 and 2023, we offered the On Your Own (OYO) River Clean Up as a continuation of the format used during the 2020 and 2021 events. This year, we will not be offering the official September – October OYO, however, we will continue to provide cleanup support throughout the year to any groups or individuals who can’t make the July event and wish to conduct a cleanup. We cannot guarantee a 2024 River Clean Up t-shirt if you choose this option, but we will provide them while supplies last. To coordinate a cleanup on your own, contact rivercleanup@ugra.org.

Questions?

Contact Matthew Wilkinson with questions about the River Clean Up (rivercleanup@ugra.org; 830-896-5445).

2023 River Clean Up Press Release and Video

2023 River Clean Up Recap

River Trash Turned Into Art

2023 River Clean Up Survey

We would like to hear your thoughts on the River Clean Up so we can work to make the next event even better.  Please complete this short survey – it should take less than 5 minutes!  Your responses will be anonymous.

2023 River Clean Up Pictures

2020rcu