BUFFALO, N.Y. — This month, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper has dedicated September to the Scajaquada Creek with their "Solo Sweep Challenge." The community is asked to help "restore and revitalize the creek." The cleanup effort can be an individual challenge or small group work that can be completed anytime and anywhere.
Not only are participants able to help clean up the creek, they could also win prizes. Solo Sweep Challenge participants will be entered in a drawing to win a pair of Freshwater Flicks tickets, a series of short films from across the world produced by the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.
"Scajaquada Creek is a vital part of our community's natural heritage and we need everyone's help to protect it," Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Volunteer Coordinator Brittni Anderson said. "The Solo Sweep Challenge allows individuals to make a tangible impact while contributing valuable data that supports our advocacy efforts."
From September 1 to 31, participants can pick up litter and trash along the creek using the Ocean Conservancy's Swell app. The Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper said by participating in the challenge, people are making three important commitments:
- Remove litter within the Buffalo Niagara Watershed
- Collect data using the Ocean Conservancy's Clean Swell app, track findings, and support clean water advocacy
- Share personal experience and inspire others
You might be wondering why participants have to track their trash and why that information is important. The data collected by participants will track the types, locations, and quantity of trash found in the watershed. That data will then be used to support and fund local community efforts to protect and restore the creek. Tracking litter data can also strengthen policy initiatives and ban specific types of waste like the recently passed polystyrene foam ban and the plastic bag ban in New York State.
There are a few spots suggested to aim clean-up efforts including Unity Island, Hoyt Lake, Meadow Lea Park, Broderick Park, and more.
An instructions guide to participating can be found on the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper website here. There is also a step-by-step challenge checklist for those interested.
There will also be a virtual Zoom launch party on Tuesday, August 27 from 5 to 6 pm. Additional questions or comments will be heard during the meeting.
