CCWD Group Cleans Up Garbage At Springbrook Creek

CCWD Group Cleans Up Garbage At Springbrook Creek

BLAINE, Minn. (5/15/2025) – On a picturesque spring day in mid-May – in the shadow of Northtown Mall – a clean up effort was taking place.

The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Coon Creek Watershed District, spent a couple hours picking up garbage next to Springbrook Creek.

“I think it’s super important,” said Nathan Schneider, a CAC member.

Springbrook gets water from four North Metro cities before flowing into the Mississippi River. That’s why the CAC focused time and energy on this location.

“Today our advisory board is out here instead of in the boardroom,” said Barbara Goodboe-Bisschoff, another CAC member. “We’re collecting garbage which is pretty cool…Spring Lake Park, Fridley, Blaine, Ham Lake. These are all communities that are part of this watershed.”

Keeping debris and waste out of water is critical – pollution affects people, animals, birds, fish and every other species on earth.

“We’re talking about water,” Goodboe-Bisschoff said. “Clean water. Anytime it’s polluted it goes all the way down to the Gulf of America now – down the Mississippi chain.”

The growth of the North Metro means it’s paramount for everyone to do their part to keep area waterways pollution-free.

“We want to make sure that we’re also preserving the beautiful landscape, the environments, the trails, the waterways,” Schneider said. ” That way we can all enjoy it.”

Resource protection can pay off

Water clean up in densely populated areas can be challenging, but small acts of resource protection like this cleanup can pay off in the future.

“It’s just all about being part of the community,” Schneider said.

The group of volunteers and board members filled approximately 20 garbage bags and got rid of some other miscellaneous items.

“Rewarding is definitely a word for it,” Schneider said.

Of course when you boil it down there really is no excuse for not throwing away your trash. The earth is not anyone’s personal garbage can.

“You have to wonder why people throw out garbage,” Goodboe-Bisschoff said. “Why aren’t they more careful.”

“Pick up your stuff,” Schneider said. “You’ve got no reason to throw stuff out of there. I had heard this anecdote a long time ago saying if it takes less than five minutes to do a chore, just do it. I think that pertains to something like this where you don’t just have to throw it out the window. Drive home or go to a local spot that has a garbage can.”

There are over 80 watersheds in the USA. For more information on the Coon Creek Watershed District go to cooncreekwd.org/cac .