Hillsdale Water Quality Project volunteers took advantage of the low water level at Hillsdale Lake, April 26, to pick up more than a truckload of trash from the lake’s shoreline and roadways.    

We really appreciate everyone’s help that participated in or donated to the event. This was our best turnout for the project’s clean up events to date. We are pleased to see the communities’ leaders coming out with their families to take part in such an important event and cause. 

More than 35 volunteers worked to pick up debris, litter and trash that had been left on the streambanks or washed downstream over time. The items ranged from propane tanks, glass and plastic bottles, cigarette debris, tires, paper and more (see picture bottom right). The volunteers came from groups including: the Hillsdale Ruritans; Boy Scout Troop No. 182 from Olathe; Edgerton Girls Scouts; the Oxford Hustlers 4-H representatives from Lenexa and numerous families and individuals.   

The Hillsdale Water Quality Project, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks at Hillsdale Lake, cleaned the banks from 9 a.m. until about noon (see picture top right). 

Following the cleanup, many of the volunteers attended a volunteer appreciation picnic. Five Hillsdale Ruritans volunteers cooked hot dogs and chips donated by Paola Wal-Mart Super Center for the event. 

Kansas StreamLink and Missouri Stream Team also donated items for the event.