Governor Deval Patrick with Volunteers from English High School. Photo by Wendy Lai.

Thank you volunteers!

Over 3,000 volunteers registered to pick up trash along the river and throughout the watershed on April 16th. Thanks to all our volunteers, sponsors, and partners who made this event a success.

Click here to view a list of the more than 140 volunteer groups who helped to clean up, along with hundreds of individuals.

View photos from many Cleanup groups of their work and the trash they picked up!

Many of our cleanup groups have been involved with the event for years. Click on the links below for a profile of some of our most dedicated groups:

• Watertown East End Neighbors
• MIT Sea Grant

Cleanup organizers & partners

The 12th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup was a part of the American Rivers National River Cleanup.

12th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup a Great Success

On Saturday April 16th, 2011, more than 3,500 volunteers and community leaders joined forces to clean the banks of the 80-mile Charles River at the 12th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup. In a partnership led by Charles River Watershed Association, volunteers from 35 towns within the Charles River watershed worked together on this spring morning to beautify our valuable river.

“This is our twelfth year organizing the event, and each year we have more volunteers excited to help clean up the river and we have expanded to cover more sites along all 80 miles of the river and throughout the watershed. We are grateful to each and every person who comes out to pick up litter and help restore the Charles River.” said Bob Zimmerman, CRWA’s Executive Director.

Governor Deval Patrick speaking at the Charles River Cleanup Kick-off event.  Also pictured: CRWA Executive Director Bob Zimmerman, and DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert. Photo by Jim Tobey

Governor Deval Patrick joined the cleanup at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade, with his remarks reminding all of us that a cleanup event of this magnitude indeed makes a difference and brings people together for a mutual cause: the betterment of our watershed. He remarked in his speech, “This place and these incredible natural resources are everyone’s and we should take care of them”. In order to reduce the amount of plastic trash along the Charles, the Governor also raised the importance for legislators to adopt a State Bottle Bill. Governor Patrick was prepared for a day of work, just like all other volunteers. Immediately after kicking-off the 12th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup, Governor Patrick and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Deputy Commissioner Ed Lambert began landscaping with mulch at the Esplanade, and the volunteers began picking up trash while enjoying a windy yet sunny day on the banks of the Charles.

Volunteers on the Esplanade. Photo by Emma Gildesgame

Click here to read the full press release.

After the cleanup, volunteers gathered to celebrate and share free refreshments at picnics across the watershed, including Artesani Playground Park in Allston-Brighton, Blue Herron Trail Way in Waltham, and Whole Foods in Bellingham. The picnics finished off a productive and rewarding day of community service beautifying one of Boston’s and Eastern Massachusetts’ premier attractions.

All volunteers received a T-shirt designed by Massachusetts College of Art junior Kim Foley. A big thank you goes out to her.

CRWA Rita Barron Fellow Eivy Monroy, CRWA Executive Director Bob Zimmerman, and Governor Deval Patrick. Photo by Jim Tobey.

Press

Over 3,500 Volunteers Came Together to Clean up the Charles River April 16, 2011

Record-setting turnout for Muddy River clean-up
April 20, 201 - Boston.com Your Town: Fenway-Kenmore

Watertown residents take time for Charles River Cleanup
April 19, 201 - Wicked Local Watertown

More than 3,500 people gather for 12th Annual Charles River Cleanup
April 18, 2011- Wicked Local Somerville

Volunteers pick up trash along Charles
April 17, 2011- Boston.com

Cleanup Sponsors

Many thanks to the current supporters of our 2011 Cleanup:

2011 Participants