(Images: Henry LaBounta)
This year the Earth Day cleanups fell on a cold, windy day, but that didn’t deter 234 volunteers from helping clear trash from Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, and our streets.
Volunteers from seven Hill & Lake neighborhood associations, together with the Isles Bun & Coffee staff, helped pick up 1,167 gallons of trash and 23 syringes.
Since 2022 there have been 124 cleanup events in the neighborhood involving 1,857 volunteers who have picked up 19,585 gallons of trash, 282 syringes, a gun, shopping carts, bikes, and a sunken canoe. Hats off to the volunteers!
Adopt-a-Drain
We can do a better job of protecting our watershed by keeping debris out of lakes in the first place.
People are surprised to learn that everything that goes into a storm drain ends up in the lakes and rivers. The only thing that should go down the drains is rainwater. Even leaves contribute to the algae problem.
You can help by adopting a drain. It is free, fun, and requires minimal effort. Adopt-a-Drain is a national program started as part of the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University.
The program has been implemented in more than 170 jurisdictions across the country and engaged more than 21,000 people, leading to more than 1 million pounds of debris water.
Go to mn.adopt-a-drain.org and enter your address to see the map of your street. The yellow drain icons show the drains available to adopt. Feel free to adopt more than one.
I have adopted eight drains and estimate that last year I spent 30 minutes total keeping them clean. You only need to check the top of the drains to make sure they’re clear of leaves and debris.
“People are surprised to learn that everything that goes into a storm drain ends up in the lakes and rivers.”
We even have a friendly neighborhood competition going on. Currently, East Isles is in the lead with 82% of its 209 drains adopted, the highest in the nation. Lowry Hill has only 48% adopted, but it also has 408 drains, more than any other neighborhood. This is your chance to bring glory to your neighborhood — and protect a lake.
You can also name your drain when you adopt it. We will hold a Drain Name Contest again this year. Here are some of the winners from 2024: Funniest Drain Name — Stormy Drainiels; Best Cultural Ref reference — Purple Drain; Green Drain Name — Save the Drain Forest. Get creative and enter the contest at – bit.ly/3Sde1Ou or scan the QR code above.
This work is made possible with the support of a Hennepin Good Steward grant from Upstream MN. Thanks also to the Green Guardians Ambassadors in all nine neighborhoods, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the many volunteers who help.
Cleaning up is a great way to meet neighbors and to get outside to make a visible difference.
Want to get involved?
East Isles Neighborhood Association’s Green Team hosts a Lake of the Isles cleanup from 9:30–11:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month. Meet at Euclid and Lake of the Isles.
East Bde Maka Ska Neighborhood Association hosts a Bde Maka Ska cleanup from 9–11 a.m. on the third Saturday of the month. Meet at the Sailing Center, 3010 E. Bde Maka Ska Parkway. Cleanup gear is provided, but boots are helpful in getting close to the shore. There are many more events on the volunteer platform HandsOn Twin Cities. Just search for Green Guardians MN at https://handsontwincities.galaxydigital.com/need/.
In related good news, the contract for the Lake of the Isles trash boom at Euclid Avenue has been extended. This is just one of the many outfalls where the storm water enters the lake. Technicians clean out the boom and shoreline regularly. Thank you, City of Minneapolis and Freshwater.
For more info contact Henry at greenguardiansmn@gmail.com.
Henry LaBounta lives in East Isles and is chair of the East Isles Neighborhood Association Green Team.
