Red Cedar River Clean Up

lschultz • July 16, 2019

On July 13th, MUCC partnered up with Michigan State University’s Landscape Services for a joint Red Cedar River Clean up event. About two miles of the Red Cedar River run through MSU’s campus, this thriving ecosystem supports many of the local wildlife in the area, along with being a subwatershed to the Upper Grand River Watershed. Even more exciting is that the Red Cedar is regularly stocked with steelhead by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, providing a great fishing opportunity for students, staff and residents. This two-mile section runs right through MSU’s campus where trash accumulates along the banks of the river as well as along the river bottom.

Holding a clean-up event such as this one is vital for the health of aquatic habitats. This partnership project was funded in part by grants from the Michigan’s Volunteer River, Stream and Creek Cleanup Program through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and through Consumer’s Energy Foundation Planet Grant.

Volunteers and MUCC and MSU staff meet right by the Sparty statue for a brief welcome and introduction to the Red Cedar River and then it was time to get in the water for conservation! At least 5 bikes were pulled out of the river and 500 lbs of trash were collected in the one-mile span of the river that was cleaned up. Over 32 individuals young and old showed up to give back to their community and to the river. Whether they where chest-high in the river grabbing out volleyballs and street signs or picking up plastic water bottles along the riverbank these volunteers were committed to making this river better for the next generation to enjoy.

If you live on the west side of the state and want to give back to your local watershed our next event is this upcoming Saturday! Join us for the fifth annual Manistee River Clean-Up event in partnership with Steelhead Manifesto on Saturday, July 20. Sign up for the event here We’ve got to do our part!

Recent Posts

Species Spotlight: The Kirtland's Warbler

By Katelyn Helsel • April 30, 2025
As spring gets fully underway and the warmer weather hits, many birds are in the process of migrating back to Michigan. One migratory species you might see (if you live in northern Michigan) is the rare Kirtland’s warbler. This bird has a long and detailed conservation story, coming back from the brink of extinction with the help of strong conservation efforts. 

The Legacy of Michigan Logging

By Olivia Triltsch • April 24, 2025
Historically, Michigan experienced a lumber era in which the state was a leading producer for 50 years starting in 1860.

MUCC celebrates a successful Clinton River Cleanup

By Katelyn Helsel • April 23, 2025
Rochester Hills, MI — On the Ground, MUCC’s volunteer stewardship program, celebrated its 250th habitat improvement project in Oakland County this past weekend. In partnership with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council , 62 volunteers removed more than 460 pounds of trash from the Clinton River watershed and surrounding areas, restoring more than 80 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. Volunteers focused on picking up trash and other debris in the river near Yates Park and along various walking trails near the Yates Cider Mill. Many different items were collected, including a couple of tires, fishing line, old cans, a sign, and even a car bumper. “We definitely wanted to clean up as much trash as possible because that's going to help the watershed as a whole, and it’s going to clean up the river for both humans aesthetically, and also the animals that live in it, and create safer drinking water” said Olivia Triltsch, MUCC’s Habitat Program and Partnerships Coordinator.
More Posts