Beautification Efforts
Open Space Cleanupss
KTMB started doing Open Space Cleanups in 2001. The Open Space portion of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful's list of programs involves organizing and mobilizing groups of volunteers to help out with preserving and maintaining open space areas within the Truckee Meadows which are publicly owned.
In 2006, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful working with Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space, Washoe County Environmental Heath, City of Sparks, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, and the City of Reno established the Great Truckee Meadows Community Cleanup. Focusing on "hot spot" areas in and around the Truckee Meadows. Over 500 volunteers removed 77 tons of trash in only three hours of volunteers work at this first cleanup. Since the cleanup first started in 2006 volunteers have cleaned-up a total of 330 tons of trash from our open spaces and other "hot spot" areas. For a full wrap up of the program, click here.
As a result of this collaboration, KTMB as well as municipal land owners recognize that cleaning up after illegal dumpers is not the best way to prevent illegal dumping. Thus the Illegal Dumping Task Force was created to address the best ways to educate the Truckee Meadows community of the ramifications of illegal dumping in our open spaces. For more information about how you can help with the Illegal Dumping Task Force contact christi@beautiful.reno.nv.us. If you see illegal dumping in progress please call 334-COPS. To report illegal dumping please call Washoe County Environmental Health Department at 328-3001.
The 2009 Great Truckee Meadows Community Cleanup will be on May 9 from 8:30am-12:00 with a volunteer appreciation lunch sponsored by Scolari's after the cleanup.
Neighborhood and Community Cleanups
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful has a long history of successful involvement with neighborhood and community cleanups. From the Sparks Clean Sweep to the Reno Clean & Green to localized community cleanups KTMB encourages and is ready to help community groups clean up their neighborhoods. To sign up for the Reno Clean & Green call 334-INFO, or for more information about organizing a community cleanup in your neighborhood e-mail maia@beautiful.reno.nv.us.
River Cleanups
Since 2003 Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful has partnered with Nevada Econet (formally Environmental Leadership), Truckee River Yacht Club, Champions of the Truckee River, City of Reno and City of Sparks Parks and Recreation Departments, and Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space to clean up trash and debris as well as help with weed abatement projects in and along the Truckee River. The cleanup spans from Crystal Peak Park in Verdi to Vista in Sparks.
Last year, through this program over 500 volunteers helped to remove 17 ton of trash and debris from the Truckee River. The effort was also helped by a generous donation through the Community Foundation's TMWA Truckee River Fund and food for volunteers was provided by Albertsons. For a full wrap-up of the project, click here.
The 2008 Truckee River Cleanup Day will be September 27 from 9am-12pm with a volunteer appreciation picnic after.