03 Oct Community Unites for Cottonwood Creek Cleanup on BC Rivers Day
On Monday afternoon, over 40 volunteers gathered at Cottonwood Falls Park to take part in the second annual Cottonwood Creek Cleanup,
hosted by Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FoKLSS) in partnership with Living Lakes Canada (LLC).
As part of this year’s BC Rivers Day celebrations, the event brought together families, students, community members, and even people who joined in on their lunch breaks to collect litter, connect with nature, and raise awareness about the importance of healthy local waterways.
A special highlight was the participation of the Wildflower Middle School class, whose enthusiasm and teamwork brought fresh energy to the cleanup. Their involvement showed how the next generation is eager to take part in protecting and restoring our waterways.
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, an estimated 250lbs of trash was removed from the creek and surrounding areas. The cleanup supports LLC’s Cottonwood Creek Revival Project, an ongoing initiative to restore the ecological integrity of one of Nelson’s most treasured urban streams.
“We’re thrilled by the turnout and the enthusiasm of the community,” said Lily Feeback, FoKLSS Program Coordinator. “Events like this show that people care deeply about protecting the water that flows through our town.”
Volunteers were treated to refreshments and light snacks, and had the chance to pick up FoKLSS swag by donation. All tools and cleanup supplies were provided, and families with children made a strong showing once again.
This event was made possible with generous support from the Osprey Foundation, Patagonia (via our local Snowpack store), the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), and the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC, celebrating 45 years of river advocacy and stewardship.