Picking up Trash Leads to Watershed Treasures: 2026 Spring Cleanup
Some of the more colorful trash removed from the watershed at the annual cleanup.
On May 16th, over 130 volunteers gathered at 12 local parks, trails and roads in the Lower Gallatin Watershed to pick up 1,212 lbs of trash at our Spring Watershed Cleanup, a GWC tradition. This event brought people of all ages together over a common goal of protecting the watershed from pollution in our beloved public spaces.
Volunteers found trash accumulating in winter snow-piles, in parks and along roads, and in the riparian zone (in, and along rivers, streams and wetlands) and did their best to remove even the most challenging of items. Notably, volunteers removed multiple sunken tires from wetland areas, dragged old car parts out of a park, and found pieces of lost items and trash.
The 2026 cleanup was a true community moment, a moment of gathering and giving time to make our home healthier and our fellowship stronger. In an increasingly digital landscape, events like the cleanup feel essential and fundamentally human.
Thank you for supporting this work. Let’s keep building traditions of stewardship in our community and our watershed.
The Spring Watershed Cleanup was made possible by our donors, Republic Services, Bozeman Brewing Company, Lockhorn Cider, Studio Wheelhouse, Fat Toads Farm Pantry, Ground Zero Demolition, Happy Trash Can Compost, and Lehrkinds Inc.
