By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the NEWS
ARROYO CITY, TX—Approximately 40 volunteers removed about 4,200 pounds of trash and debris from the Arroyo Colorado during a cleanup on Saturday, July 11, at Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park.
Volunteers collected more than 120 bags of trash, along with larger items such as ice chests, buckets, tires, and a refrigerator door.
Other items collected included plastic and glass bottles, cigarette butts, fishing line, foil, plastic bags, caps, beach “floaties” and toys, chairs, and additional debris.
Samantha Colunga, Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator at the Texas Water Resources Institute, said the effort was intended to prevent trash from reaching the Lower Laguna Madre.
“The main goal of this cleanup is to remove as much trash and debris as possible from the Arroyo Colorado before it reaches the Lower Laguna Madre,” Colunga said.
Colunga said that trash and debris left in the environment can slowly leach contaminants into water resources and break down into microplastics that accumulate in wildlife. Debris can also kill wildlife by entanglement or drowning.
Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park was selected because it is the last accessible area along the Arroyo Colorado and the final point where debris and trash accumulate before the waterway enters the Laguna Madre.
According to Colunga, the Arroyo Colorado is about 90 miles long, with its headwaters in Mission.
It continues past McAllen, Pharr, San Juan, Weslaco, Mercedes, Harlingen, Rio Hondo, and Arroyo City before entering the Laguna Madre. Trash entering storm drains in those cities and the surrounding watershed flows into the Arroyo Colorado.
The cleanup received support from several organizations. The Arroyo City Volunteer Fire Department provided water and snacks, while RGV Fishing Area and Waterway Cleanups supplied bags, gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, trash grabbers, and giveaway items.
The Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program provided additional trash bags and giveaways. The Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership supplied snacks, and Nichos Produce donated a box of bananas.
The partnership with the fire department was formed after an October 2025 cleanup, when local residents expressed interest in holding more frequent events.
Cleanups were held in March and July, and the next cleanup is scheduled for October, with the exact date still to be determined.
Residents can stay informed by joining the Arroyo Colorado mailing list or following the Facebook pages of the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership, the CBBEP Coastal Bird Program, and RGV Fishing Area and Waterway Cleanups.
Upcoming events are also posted on arroyocolorado.org/events.