Waterway Cleanup Projects
Join us in our mission to keep our waterways clean and healthy. Explore our ongoing projects and find out how you can get involved.
2026 Project
VDOT: Adopt a Highway
We have partnered with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and their Adopt-a-Highway Program. We all have a shared mission of keeping Virginia beautiful for residents and visitors. This is also a key part of Virginia’s environmental strategy to prevent litter from entering wild areas and waterways.
Participation in Virginia’s Adopt-a-Highway program is free. Highway Adopters commit to cleaning their stretch of highway at least two times per year, for an adoption period of three years. Highway Adopters must report their pickups to VDOT so we can accurately account for their efforts.
VDOT provides Highway Adopters with safety equipment and trash bags. VDOT will install two signs recognizing your group’s adoption after you have reported two successful litter pickups.
If you would like to adopt a highway, please submit a Adopt-a-Highway Application.
2026 Project
Scouting America: Scouting for Clean Waterways
Scouting for Clean Waterways is a nationwide initiative that empowers all Scouts and Venturers to take action against aquatic trash. Environmental stewardship and community service are fundamental values of the Scouting movement. By supporting Scouting for Clean Waterways, we can align with these core principles and provide Scouts with opportunities to live the Scout Oath and Law in meaningful ways, fostering character development and leadership skills.
We have partnered with the Aquia District of the National Capital Area Council to hold an annual, district-wide event to provide opportunities to scouts of all ages to participate in this program.
2025 Project
Repurposed Rain Barrels: Upcycling for Cleaner Waterways
As part of our mission to prevent waste, manage stormwater runoff, and protect local ecosystems, Waterways Cleanup is transforming used food storage barrels into fully functional rain barrels. This initiative reduces pollution, prevents erosion, and promotes water conservation—while giving everyday residents a hands-on way to protect Virginia’s rivers and streams.
Rain barrels work by capturing and storing rainwater from rooftops that would otherwise rush over driveways and pavement, picking up pollutants like oil, pesticides, and trash. Without intervention, this runoff flows directly into storm drains and nearby waterways, degrading water quality and aquatic habitats. By reducing both the volume and speed of stormwater, rain barrels help:
- Prevent erosion along stream banks,
- Keep sediment and pollutants out of creeks and rivers,
- Reduce strain on combined sewer systems, which can overflow and release untreated sewage during heavy rains, and
- Lower household water use by providing an alternative source for watering gardens, lawns, and landscapes.
Each upcycled barrel includes:
- A solid spigot with garden hose attachment
- An overflow fitting with garden hose attachment
- A 3D-printed 4" hose to 2" bung adapter
- A gutter downspout to 4" hose connector
Made from reclaimed food-grade containers, these rain barrels extend the life of materials that might otherwise become waste. Beyond their function, they stand as visible reminders of grassroots environmental action — sparking conversations and inspiring neighbors to consider their role in protecting local waterways. Every barrel installed is not just a tool — it’s a step toward a cleaner, more resilient community.
2025 Project
Our Trash-Free Waters: Summer Challenge 2025
The Trash-Free Waters Summer Challenge will remove hundreds of pounds of trash and debris, preventing plastics, metals, and other pollutants from entering sensitive ecosystems. Beyond immediate impact, the program will raise awareness about litter prevention, conservation, and personal responsibility in protecting water resources. By hosting recurring cleanups, we will foster lasting habits of civic environmental engagement and create visible improvements in high-impact local areas.
Grant funding will be used to purchase durable safety equipment, cleanup tools, signage, and to help acquire a trailer to safely transport supplies to multiple cleanup sites. Having a dedicated trailer will allow Waterway Cleanups, Inc. to increase its reach, respond to community cleanup requests, and manage events more effectively.
Through this program, we aim not only to clean our waters but to inspire a movement—uniting neighbors, families, and community partners in a shared vision for a cleaner, healthier Virginia.
2025 Project
City of Fredericksburg Park Steward Program - Wetlands in Dixon Park
This is Waterway Cleanups’s inaugural seasonal program dedicated to reducing pollution in Stafford County, Virginia’s rivers, streams, and creeks.
Focused on Rappahannock River, Potomac River, and Aquia Creek, this project will engage local volunteers in hands-on cleanups during the peak summer months. Our goal is to host at least one organized cleanup event per month from June through September 2025, empowering community members to take direct action to protect our waterways.
We believe environmental stewardship should be accessible to all. To remove financial barriers and make volunteering safe and welcoming, we provide free safety gear, trash collection supplies, and logistical support at every event. Volunteers are asked to contribute only their time and passion. Events will be publicized widely to engage residents from diverse backgrounds and build a stronger, more connected community around the shared goal of healthy waterways.
Waterway Cleanups fosters a welcoming community where everyone belongs. We believe environmental stewardship should be accessible to all. We provide safety gear and supplies to remove financial barriers, and bring together people from diverse cultures and backgrounds to connect through shared action in nature, building community across differences.
Measuring Our Impact
Building Trust Through Action
Waterway Cleanups will track key measurable results to demonstrate the success and impact of the Trash-Free Waters: Summer Challenge 2025 program.
Building a Foundation
As a brand-new nonprofit organization founded in 2025, we are focused on establishing our credibility and building strong community participation from the ground up. For our first summer series, we expect to engage a minimum of 5 volunteers per cleanup event, for a total of at least 20 volunteers across all events. We will also track volunteer hours, with a goal of a minimum of 60 hours contributed over the season.
Trash Removal
Each event will measure the number of bags of trash collected, with a goal of removing a minimum of 60 bags of litter and debris from our local waterways and surrounding environments. We will also estimate the weight of trash removed, aiming for a minimum of 1,200 pounds of material collected over the course of the project.
Tracking Our Impact
Volunteer participation numbers, hours contributed, bags collected, number of tires recovered, and pounds of debris removed will all be recorded using a standardized event tracking form. In addition, we will capture before and after photos at cleanup sites to visually demonstrate the environmental improvements achieved through the program.
By setting these achievable, measurable goals, Waterway Cleanups, Inc. will be able to document our early impact, build public trust, and lay the foundation for future growth and greater environmental stewardship in Stafford County and beyond.