YORK COUNTY, Pa. — The Watershed Alliance of York (WAY) says nearly 1,200 miles of waterways fill the county.
But just about half of them are polluted. While beautiful from afar, when taking a closer look you'll find trash scattered along Codorus Creek.
"Every year we remove, for example, tires. Hundreds a year," said WAY's president, Rachel Stahlman. "Tons of trash every year."
The Codorus Watershed is the largest of several targeted areas WAY volunteers continue to improve.
"It receives a lot of funding because of all of the issues that it has," said Stahlman. "There's a lot of industry around us that they all have permits allowing them to discharge into this creek. It's caused a lot of issues over the years."
WAY leaders say they are making progress through clean-ups and restoration projects.
"In York County, we're focused on reducing sediment and nutrients from our waterways," said Stahlman.
And they're hoping to do so with the help of freshwater mussels found in Codorus Creek.
"Having mussels in the water is super important," said Stahlman. "They're called the livers of the river because they filter the water and eat nutrients."
During Give Local York, WAY leaders hope to raise $7,000 to help get more mussels into these waterways. But donating isn't the only way to give back.
"I think the biggest thing is if you see trash, pick it up. If you have a dog, on your walk, just take a bag with you and pick up a few pieces of trash along the way," said Stahlman. "It's everyone's land. We're all here together. It's the smallest act you can do that really does make a difference."
On Friday, May 3, WAY volunteers will celebrate Give Local York with other water protection organizations at the "Party for the River" at John Wright Restaurant.