Friends of the Minnesota Valley is the only nongovernmental recipient of a 2009 Governor's Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention.  Click HERE to view the press release.

What are Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality?

Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality are local projects that cut water pollution.  Any person, group or organization can participate in a Clean-Up.  Volunteers rake, sweep, bag and remove loose dirt and leaves blocking sewer grates on city streets.  The organic material can then be composted.  Trash and litter can be recycled or disposed of before polluting surface water.

Why are Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality Important?

Rainstorms and snowmelt wash leaves and loose dirt into surface waters.  As it decays, phosphorus enters the waterways and travels to rivers further downstream.  Phosphorus pollutes rivers and lakes by causing excessive growth of aquatic plants and a decrease in oxygen levels in the water.  By cleaning up organic matter in the spring, between snowmelt and the first heavy rains, a community can significantly reduce pollution.

Your Work Translates into Real Results:  Cleaner Water for You, Your Family, and Your Community

The Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality play an important role in removing phosphorus from rivers.  Five garbage bags of debris contain one pound of phosphorus.  A pound of phosphorus produces about 1,000 pounds of algae.  Using this formula, we can calculate how much phosphorus we have prevented from entering local surface waters.

There is a broad base of support for the Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality Program. The program has been incredibly successful since its inception 8 years ago. We have hosted 97 Clean-Ups, resulting in the removal of about 13,000 pounds of phosphorus (equal to 13 million pounds of harmful aquatic growth) and 47,000 pounds of trash from the Minnesota River and its watershed. 4,300 citizens have volunteered for the program. To date, we have a list of 40 partner organizations representing a variety of civic organizations, school groups, church groups, city staff and elected officials, conservation organizations, philanthropic entities, and corporations.

How Can I Help?

Donate your time and energy to improve your local water quality.  Clean-Ups are usually scheduled in April.  Watch your community newspaper for information.  Or, contact us at 952-881-9065 or info@friendsofmnvalley.org to learn more.

Join with friends, a neighborhood group or an organization to sponsor a Community Clean-Up for Water Quality in your neighborhood.  It's easy.  All you need are gloves, rakes, brooms, shovels, and bags to clean up the debris.  If you need help with supplies, we can provide them.

You can also work individually, cleaning up the area around your street.  Let us know how many bags of compost you collect and you'll receive a free thank you gift.  Watch for inserts in your local newspaper.

What Else Can I Do?

You can help promote the Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality with donations.  Your gift will pay for materials and advertisements promoting Clean-Ups and help spread the important message of clean water and conservation.

We also accept in-kind donations of products such as plastic bags, gloves and shovels used in Clean-Ups.  Join Friends of the Minnesota Valley and support our work in other ways.

View the Video:

Friends of the Minnesota Valley and the Freshwater Society have produced an information DVD on the Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality. To view this video, please click HERE.

For information on when Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality are planned in your area, please visit our events page.

Special thanks to the Freshwater Society, the Xcel Energy Foundation, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the Eden Prairie Foundation for their financial support of the Community Clean-Ups for Water Quality Program.

Bloomington Noon Rotary