VOLUNTEERS CLEAN UP PORTION OF MILL CREEK WATERSHED
A portion of the Mill Creek Watershed got cleaned up Sunday in celebration of Earth Day. The Young Professionals Organizations of Brenham and Washington County and Bellville Young Professionals along with several Master Naturalists conducted the cleanup with the help of 20 volunteers Sunday. The site on East Mill Creek was chosen because debris from the flooding in 2016 and 2017 had caused a blockage/slowdown of the creek. The volunteers removed almost 2000 pounds of downed trees and limbs and opened the creek back up to allow a better flow of water in future rains. The group also scattered natural grass and vegetation seeds to encourage growth along the banks of the creek.
The project was part of the Keep Texas Waterways Clean program. For more information about the program, go to ktb.org.
Full Press Release:
Local Groups Clean Litter from Mill Creek Watershed
Volunteers Pitch In as Part of Keep Texas Waterways Clean Program
Brenham, Texas – Local volunteers banded together to tackle litter in the Mill Creek Watershed, as part of the Keep Texas Waterways Clean program. The Young Professionals Organizations of Brenham/Washington County and Bellville Young Professionals along with several Master Naturalists conducted a cleanup with the help of 20 volunteers on Sunday, April 22nd – Earth Day. The site on East Mill Creek was chosen because debris from the flooding in 2016 and 2017 had caused a blockage/slowdown of the creek. This slow down not only cause flooding upstream, it also was a reason for raised bacteria levels in the creek itself, as well as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The removal of 1500-2000 lbs. of downed trees and limbs opened the creek back up and allows a better flow for water drain off for future rains. The group also scattered natural grass and vegetation seeds to encourage growth along the banks of the creek.
Keep Texas Waterways Clean, the program supporting statewide community-based waterway cleanups, is brought to communities by H-E-B, Central Market and Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB). This program raises public awareness about the need for healthy waterways and provides great opportunities for community engagement.
“The Young Professionals of Washington County and Bellville are committed to keeping the Mill Creek Watershed clean so we can protect and restore it for us – and future generations. Participating in a cleanup is one way that community members can do their part for the waters we all love and have a fun time outdoors with friends and family,” said Jennifer Phillips, President of the Young Professionals of Washington County.
“Waterways connect us to each other, to nature, and to future generations. It is wonderful to see so many people in Brenham and across Texas taking responsibility for improving their community environment,” said Suzanne Kho, KTB Executive Director. “We applaud the work of the Young Professionals for their efforts on behalf of Texas waterways and the community.”
For more information on waterway cleanups happening throughout the state, visit www.ktb.org.
The Young Professionals Organization of Washington County was launched by the Chamber in 2011. This group of young professionals meets for a monthly networking event each month. The locations vary, but they are always fun, casual, and FREE! Although the "official" age limit is 45, we don't check IDs. If you are interested in being "in the loop" for future YPO activities, or if your company would like to either host or sponsor one of our events, please send your contact info to: youngpros@brenhamtexas.com or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/YPOWashingtonCounty/
The Bellville Young Professionals Organization of was founded in 2017 by the Chamber. Bellville Young Professionals is open to anyone who lives or works in Bellville and is between the age of 21-45. We will be taking the wisdom from the past, and bringing it into the future, with guest speakers from leaders in our community. For more information, contact them at info@bellville.com or find them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BellvilleYPO
About the Mill Creek Watershed
The Mill Creek Watershed Partnership supports approved implementation of the Watershed Protection Plan (WPP). The Partnership is a voluntary, proactive, organization of stakeholders working to improve surface water quality in and around Mill Creek. Stakeholders are anyone who lives, works, or has an interest in the water quality in the Mill Creek Watershed. We encourage all those who wish to become involved or simply learn more to sign up to the list-serv and attend quarterly meetings. https://millcreek.tamu.edu/
About Keep Texas Beautiful
Keep Texas Beautiful is a network of dedicated Texans working together to make our state the best place to live, work, and play. We equip local partners and affiliates with the tools they need to build vibrant, engaged communities. Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful has 50 years of experience deploying resources for local clean-up, recycling, and youth engagement efforts. Everything we do is focused on mobilizing volunteers to take action across the state. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, we lead more than 400 affiliates and reach 21 million Texans annually. We are proudly based in Austin, Texas. To learn more or get involved please visit: https://www.ktb.org/. For more information, visit www.ktb.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @keeptxbeautiful.
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail, and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its 11,000 employees are committed to working with others to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas by maintaining a safe system, addressing congestion, connecting Texas communities, and being a Best in Class state agency. Find out more at www.txdot.gov. Fan us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/txdot; and follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/txdot. Don’t mess with Texas® is a registered trademark owned by the Texas Department of Transportation. For more information visit www.dontmesswithtexas.org.