Community Rallies Together for Cleaner Spaces

By Michele Robertson

Every year for the past 26 years, residents have gathered together in the early morning to split the work on a community chore. Riverblitz 2025 took place on Saturday March 2, 2025 from 7-11 am. Participants picked up supplies at the Riverwalk Recreation Center and headed out to various locations along the Pecos River to begin the arduous task of picking up litter.

Mary Garwood, Beautification Coordinator/Keep Carlsbad Beautiful (KCB) Director has participated in Riverblitz as a volunteer for eight years, and with KCB for nine years. She shared that preliminary numbers show about 362 participants came out this year, and that final numbers are being tallied for tonnage of rubbish collected. “We filled more than one container at the Rec Center, and that’s a first! We do know two burnt cars are out at Lake Avalon waiting to be picked up,” she shared. There have been several cars recovered from that area over the past couple of Riverblitz events.

“We host Riverblitz every year to raise litter and illegal dumping awareness for our local waterways and green spaces. Our area is tremendously blessed with our Pecos River and to have it so easily accessed by the public for its use. Taking care of it is all of our responsibility and Riverblitz provides a fun way to kick off the year of recreational use by those choosing to enjoy it,” Garwood said.

Almost a dozen locations between Brantley Lake and Higby Hole were tackled by volunteers armed with bags and grabbers, ready to make a difference. At the end of the event, SIMCO sponsored the luncheon which was grilled up by the Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse. Lunch attendees also had the chance to win items donated by area businesses during the raffle portion.

Once a year isn’t enough though, as litter along our waterways and around the area is an ongoing issue. “People can start by packing out what they bring in. The basic “Leave No Trace” principle that when you enjoy a spot, you take all the trash with you when you leave. Taking a trash bag or two with you on a day out at the river is a simple step to help keep our rivers cleaner and safer,” Garwood encouraged.

Jean Prominski, who recently moved to Carlsbad, shared their experience with Riverblitz.“This was our first year participating in Riverblitz, and it was a really fulfilling way to spend our morning. We took the back way up to Diving Rock, and got to explore an area of Carlsbad we had never been to. The support from volunteers and staff was wonderful- providing trash bags, gloves, water, and helping to collect the bags of trash we picked up along the way. There was a real sense of camaraderie with everyone involved,” she said.

“Riverblitz has been an ongoing effort for 26 years now and has a very grassroots beginning and hasn’t veered off track over time. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need to hold this event at all, but we are fighting a deep rooted culture towards landscape aesthetic appreciation that just hasn’t been a priority for many people. I’m seeing that the need for cleanups is only growing with the influx of people to the area, and we will do the best we can to keep up! I am excited to see the effects of the recent single-use plastic carryout bag ordinance but also recognize it won’t solve our litter issues. We all have to make correct choices on how to dispose of our trash: Cover loads, use the convenience stations around the City and County, don’t throw items in the back of trucks, and tying our trash bags are all simple responsible things we can all do,” shared Garwood.

Garwood shared that there are ways to help throughout the year, “Keep Carlsbad Beautiful offers civic, youth, and non-profit groups the opportunity to fundraise up to $500 by signing up to pick up litter in a designated area. It’s a win-win effort for everyone. In about 3 hours, a group can earn the funds without having to find a sponsor or sell anything, which can be cumbersome. It also makes for a cleaner community that we can all enjoy,” she said. The City and County provide multiple ways to safely dispose of garbage. In the Carlsbad area, trash can be taken to the City of Carlsbad Solid Waste Convenience Station at 301 E. Plaza 6,

Happy Valley Convenience Station on Happy Valley Road across from the shooting range,

Eddy County Convenience Station at 410 E. Derrick Rd, and Sandpoint Landfill, 164 Landfill Rd, Carlsbad. In the Artesia area; City of Artesia transfer station, 2507 Pecos Ave. and the corner of Fairgrounds/13th St convenience station in Artesia. Near Loving to the Loving transfer station, 45 Higby Hole Rd, and the Loco Hills Collection Center 132205 Lovington Hwy, Loco Hills, NM. Twice a year a Household Hazardous Waste Day event is held, where people can bring in materials that don’t belong in the regular garbage.

“It’s always incredible to see the turnout of people who come out annually to show their love for our Pecos River and the camaraderie it builds in our community. We have so many people who truly love the Pecos River and seeing them come together each year truly makes Riverblitz all worthwhile,” Garwood enthused.