Wading through shallow waters, a volunteer collects trash at the Lower Salt River during the Earth Day event on April 22, 2025, in Mesa. (Photo by Giuliano Moller/Cronkite News)
Natural Restorations, a nonprofit focused on restoring outdoor spaces, hosted its 10th annual Earth Day cleanup at the Lower Salt River on April 22, 2025, in Mesa. (Photo by Giuliano Moller/Cronkite News)
MESA – More than 50 years after the first Earth Day rang the alarm to the planet’s urgent needs, communities across the world – and in the Valley – are still answering the call.
Last Tuesday, hundreds of volunteers armed with trash bags and gloves gathered along the Lower Salt River, joining Natural Restorations for their 10th annual cleanup to honor the planet and protect one of Arizona’s vital waterways.
Since launching its first Salt River cleanup in 2015, Natural Restorations and volunteers have removed 157,736 pounds of trash (equivalent to more than 78 tons) from the river and surrounding areas. They have also removed 49,006 square feet of graffiti, recycled 2,861 tires and planted 114,620 trees and cacti, including over 2,300 saguaros in various parts of Arizona.
“The Salt River is so important because it’s one of the valley’s main sources of water. So if we don’t protect it and keep it clean, I mean that’s life for the valley, especially with us going into summertime,” said Nicole Corey, co-founder of Natural Restorations.
The impact isn’t just about human needs. Corey pointed to a tragic reminder of why cleanups matter. In 2022, a Salt River wild horse named Tango died after choking on plastic debris.
Natural Restorations, a nonprofit focused on restoring outdoor spaces, hosted its 10th annual Earth Day cleanup at the Lower Salt River on April 22, 2025, in Mesa. (Photo by Giuliano Moller/Cronkite News)
First established in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness of national environmental issues, Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22. Before then, it was legal for factories to release toxic smoke into the atmosphere and dump toxic waste into nearby waterways. At the time, no Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Clean Air Act, or Clean Water Act existed to regulate industrial pollution.
Today, Earth Day is recognized in 190 countries, with millions participating in restoration projects, cleanups and educational events each year. At this year’s Salt River event, 471 volunteers turned out, including 18 youth participants from organizations like Topgolf and Wells Fargo. Their efforts focused not just on trash removal, but also on clearing invasive grasses and weeds that threaten native ecosystems.
“It’s the only body of water we have close to the city,” said volunteer Evan Crane. “When they built the Town Lakes, I was just a kid, and before that, you know, it was just a dry river bed. However, once they allowed the water to flow down here and the fill to occur, wetlands began to form, and waterfowl appeared in the area. As a result, it has been great for the birds.”
Beyond the organizations that volunteered, many people from the general public helped with the cause to deliver the message about areas that desperately need protection.
“This event builds awareness of what’s out here,” volunteer Christopher Geist said. ”A lot of people in Arizona don’t realize that these things are here, kind of like how half of the people have never been to the Grand Canyon. So once you come out here and experience it gives you that perspective.”
With another successful cleanup behind them, Natural Restorations hopes to keep growing the movement in the years ahead, one volunteer at a time.
“By hosting these events, we’re able to show people that when you come out to these places to enjoy them, you still have to be a good steward of the land and pick up after yourself,” Corey said.
