Valley Creek Clean-up
Date: August 10, 2024
Valley Creek has been a valuable natural resource for the city of Birmingham and the surrounding communities throughout their history. Valley Creek begins under downtown Birmingham (close to UAB Hospital) and flows west to the Black Warrior River. The watershed for Valley Creek is a part of Bessemer, Birmingham, Brighton, Fairfield, Hueytown, Lipscomb, Maytown, Midfield, North Johns, Pleasant Grove, and Sylvan Springs and covers about 257 square miles. Valley Creek provides aquatic habitat to numerous animals and continues to improve, but it needs your help.
The Biannual Valley Creek Clean-Up will focus on public awareness and trash removal in the Valley Creek watershed. The Clean-Up is coordinated by the Valley Creek Cleanup Committee: Storm Water Management Authority, Inc. and Jefferson County Department of Health, the Cities of Birmingham and Bessemer Storm Water Programs, Fresh Water Land Trust, Keep Birmingham Beautiful, Renew Our Rivers, Jefferson County Commission Office and local municipalities. The cities and communities involved include Birmingham, Bessemer, Brighton, Hueytown, Lipscomb, Midfield, Fairfield, Pleasant Grove, and Unincorporated Jefferson County. So far over 80 tons of trash and debris have been removed from Valley Creek and the roadways within the watershed.
Who benefits from the clean-up?
- Students: If participants would like to use the letter towards their community service hours including, but not limited to the following groups: high school students, college students in fraternity, sorority, environmental clubs or any civic organization.
- Outdoor Enthusiasts: Those who have an appreciation for our rivers and natural resources.
- Residents: Removing the trash from the stream can assist in reducing flooding. Items that prevent the water from moving freely in the creek.
- Citizens: The Clean-Up helps educate the public on the effects of trash in storm drain systems or entering directly into the creek.
- Community: Pride knowing that you have participated in GREAT cause in your community.
- You: T-Shirt and supplies (While they last!)
Description of Clean-up Activities
- Roadside clean-up participant (8-15 years of age must be accompanied by adult)
Volunteer participants will remove litter and trash items along the roadside banks. Volunteers will receive clean-up supplies while they last to remove debris related items. Volunteers will be placed in a group accompanied by Valley Creek Clean-Up Committee Representative to the various site locations.
- In the creek participant (12-15 years of age must be accompanied by adult)
Volunteer participants will remove litter and trash items along the creek banks. Volunteers will receive clean-up supplies while they last to remove debris related items. Volunteers will be placed in a group accompanied by Valley Creek Clean-Up Team Representative to the various site locations along the creek. Trash will be placed in boats and floated down to a pick up site.
General Information
- What to wear:
Wear old clothes (long pants or shorts) that you don’t mind getting dirty or stained. Also consider wearing close toe shoes for your protection such as old tennis shoes (No sandals or flip-flops!).
- What to bring:
Consider bringing insect repellant, sunscreen and gloves for your protection as well as items such as trash pickers or gardener potato forks/rakes are very helpful in picking trash up on the side of the road as well as out of trees along the creek. If you are interested in getting in the creek and you have waders please bring them. A limited number of waders will be available to volunteers (while supplies last).
Safety Information
- Only pick up items with which you are comfortable. Ask for help with larger or awkward items. If it won’t budge, just leave it.
- Be careful when handling sharp items. Use gloves!
- Be on the lookout for snakes, wasps, and hornets in debris piles or vegetated areas.
- Don’t get dehydrated. Drink plenty of water