Our 2025 Earth Day River Cleanup on April 19th was a smashing success! Over 400 volunteers removed 11,520 pounds of litter from the banks of the Spokane River and Hangman Creek! That is a lot of trash that accumulated over winter, especially in such a small area. Over the next year we will be looking at stronger litter prevention measures, as well as scheduling more cleanups. Check out our event page to sign up for more cleanups!

It was a team effort though, and we could not have don it without the support of our partners and supporters. We’d like to thank our event sponsors, Lime, DOMA Coffee, House of Hose, and CHAS.

In addition to our wonderful sponsors, we added a few vendors and in-kind sponsors this year. Thank you to:

EspressGo for serving up the warm coffee

Jerusalem Middle Eastern cuisine and more for the delicious food

FLOW Adventures and Northwest Renewables for lending your trailers for shuttling trash

Spokane Indians for sharing Ribby with us for a bit

City of Spokane - Municipal Government Code Enforcement for removing the collected trash and hauling it to Waste-to-Energy

CHAS Health, Pioneer Human Services, and SNAP for conducting outreach to the unhoused individuals in the area before our event

Photo story by Marc Fryt:

Ben Wright and Lisa Bohannon joined the Spokane River cleanup to help care for a river that feels like home. Lisa grew up swimming in it and now spends time floating, fishing, and kayaking its waters. Ben snorkels the river and picks up trash along the way. For both of them, it's about respect—protecting the river today so future generations can enjoy it tomorrow.

Robert Dean, who grew up in Spokane, spoke about the importance of keeping natural places natural, setting a positive example, and expanding community programs that help protect and revitalize the river. Chandler Dean, a member of the Spokane Merfolk Pod, finds healing and grounding in swimming with fish and being near water. For her, the river is a space for recreation, connection, and renewal—and bringing salmon back is part of that vision.

John Jacobs, among the bushes with a trash bag in hand, brought his passion for river life from Minnesota to Spokane. A recent transplant, he and his wife float the river, fish for trout, and see wild spaces in the city as something special worth protecting. "It’s all linked,” he said. “This is a global issue, but it needs a local approach.”

Elizabeth Strauch joined the cleanup because the Spokane River is a key part of what makes the city beautiful and meaningful. She floats it often, feels deeply connected to it, and believes that if we take care of it, even salmon can continue to return. "It feels good to do something."

Brody Jacobs and Jessica Hattan came out to the Spokane River cleanup to give back to a place that means a lot to them. Jessica, new to the area, wanted to get involved and help keep the river clean. For Brody, spending time on the river is a meaningful part of life—it brings purpose, joy, and a connection he wishes more people could experience.

Magic Johnson and Matthew Ryplewski, part of Lime’s maintenance team, showed up to care for the Spokane River—a place they both value deeply. For Matthew, who was born and raised here, the river feels like home. Magic spoke about how powerful it is to connect with nature. Both have seen firsthand the damage caused when scooters are thrown in the river, and while Lime offers a low-cost way to get around, they believe the river—free and shared by all—deserves greater care and respect.

Gary Schmidt, born and raised in Spokane, who’s been coming to the river since he was four, showed up with all five of his kids. He’s participated in multiple cleanups over the years and works for SNAP, supporting the local community. "It’s about getting more people motivated to care for the river."

Caelan Conlon and Emily Davis say the river is part of who they are. In the warmer months, they’re out on it nearly every day—fishing, exploring, and doing their part to care for it. They’re passionate about the Spokane River and want to help others learn to look after it too.

More photos from the event:

Comment