"Today is really about celebrating our waterways here in the capital city and really recognizing all of our awesome volunteers over the past two years," the president and founder of Michigan Waterways Stewards Mike Stout said. "We began this organization in 2022 and we’ve mobilized nearly 2,000 volunteers who removed close to 55 tons of litter and trash." 

The event, taking place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., was more than just volunteering. Attendees were given a free day pass to Potter Park Zoo and a picnic, making the experience fun for everybody. 

Stout said the project first began in November 2022, when they partnered with a local railroad company and cleared out the 10 year collection of trees and logs under a bridge. Since then, the project has taken off, and with every effort the clearing becomes easier. 

"Before, it was a very undesirable waterway destination of Michigan," Stout said. “So now our waterways here, it's just a transformational change."

Stout said he moved to the area two years ago to chase a college sweetheart, and decided he needed to do something about the trash piling up in the river. 

"Well I got two options here," he said. "I can be complicit and complain, or do something."

Supported by several organizations, including the Lansing Lugnuts and the City’s Parks and Recreation, the event is continuing to grow. The scooter company Lime is on the list of sponsors, and Stout said the stewards have pulled out 260 scooters from the Red Cedar. 

Potter Park Zoo, another sponsor, allowed their property to be the headquarters of the efforts on Sept. 21. 

"We started our river cleanup the year before we met Mike and he saw that we were interested in getting more active and cleaning up the river," the zoo’s conservation and engagement lead Stephanie Pentiuk said.   

Pentiuk said the river cleanup aligns with the mission of the zoo to inspire the conservation of wildlife and the natural world. With the river being in their backyard, the zoo has set up tables informing the public about the trash accumulation. One of their visuals showed what Sal the Salmon would see if he were to swim down the river-way, including pollution from fertilizers and rubble from construction. 

"It’s really important to us to keep people aware of what’s going on right now in their own backyard," she said. 

The zoo aims to keep the area clean by adding pollinator gardens and disposing of all animal waste properly so it won't feed into the river. Along with the cleanup, park beautification events at Cherry Hill Park and Kruger’s Landing were taking place. 

Jim Pinkel, a member of The Bob Perrin Chapter of Trout Unlimited, joined because he enjoys fishing and wanted to help the river flow freely.

"The faster the water flows, the cooler it is, and trout like cold water," Pinkel said.

Members of the community were handed trash pickers and trash bags before being sent to assist in the effort. One family of four looked especially excited to be present, the children playing with their new tools before the work began. 

Corinne Williams-Hough, a student at East Lansing High School, volunteered to gain National Honors Society hours but had her own personal reasons for attending.

"It’s a beautiful area and the more trash you pick up, the more you can preserve its beauty," Williams-Hough said. "I’ve been going to Potter Park Zoo since I was really young and it’s always been a nice place to be around."

Her mother, Ebonia Williams, said she chose to join her daughter and make it a family event because she is an advocate for clean water. 

"I understand how important it is to keep the waterstead healthy, and part of that is doing our part in removing the debris that we have," Williams said. "It’s really inspiring. I thought we were going to be the only ones with little guys but I’m seeing a lot more children which is nice. It kind of sends that same message of conservatorship down to the younger ages."