In 2019, the City of Apalachicola invited local organizations to help care for community parks through an adoption program. Apalachicola Riverkeeper proudly stepped up and adopted Mill Pond in June of that year, beginning what has become a seven-year commitment to keeping this special place clean and healthy.
Since then, every month without fail, Riverkeeper staff and volunteers have shown up ready to work. Together, they have spent countless hours picking up, bagging, dragging, stuffing, and hauling away trash from Mill Pond and the surrounding river. What started as a simple park adoption has grown into a long-standing tradition of community stewardship and environmental protection.
Over the past seven years, thousands of pounds of litter have been removed from our waterways and shorelines. Along the way, volunteers have witnessed changing seasons, rising and falling tides, wildlife encounters, storms, celebrations, and the ongoing story of Apalachicola’s working waterfront. If the waters of Mill Pond, the dedicated volunteers, and even the boats tied up at the marina could talk, they would have countless stories to tell about the people who have rolled up their sleeves month after month to make a difference.
The success of the Mill Pond cleanups is a testament to the power of community action. What may seem like a small effort each month has added up to a tremendous impact over seven years. Apalachicola Riverkeeper is grateful to every volunteer who has donated their time, energy, and dedication to helping keep Mill Pond, the Apalachicola River, and Apalachicola Bay cleaner for future generations.
As we celebrate seven years of service at Mill Pond, we look forward to continuing this important work and welcoming new volunteers to join us. Together, we can ensure that this treasured community space remains a place where people and wildlife can thrive.
Looking Ahead: A New Approach to Stewardship
As proud as we are of seven years of monthly cleanups at Mill Pond, the reality is that volunteer participation has declined, and the day-to-day demands of Apalachicola Riverkeeper continue to grow. To ensure we can maintain our impact while making the best use of our resources, we are initiating a new approach.
Beginning in September, Mill Pond cleanups will take place every other month. In addition, we will begin combining our Eco-Outings with organized trash pick-up events. Our goal is to introduce paddlers to the importance of hands-on stewardship while encouraging greater participation in cleanup efforts throughout the Apalachicola River watershed.
We recently tested this combined format at Owl Creek with positive results and will do so again at Merritt’s Mill Pond on July 12. Based on the success of these pilot events, we plan to continue the combined Eco-Outing/Clean-Up model through the remainder of the year. We hope this new format will attract new volunteers, strengthen community involvement, and expand our ability to care for waterways beyond Mill Pond.
As always, we are looking for dedicated volunteers to help lead and support both cleanups and Eco-Outings. If you know of a shoreline, creek, boat ramp, park, or other area that could use a little TLC, please let us know. We are always looking for new cleanup locations and community partners who want to help make a difference.
We are also actively seeking Clean-Up Captains—volunteers willing to help organize and lead cleanup efforts in their communities. These leaders are essential to expanding our reach and protecting more of the watershed. If you are interested in becoming a Clean-Up Captain, volunteering at an event, or simply learning more about how you can help, please reach out. We NEED you!
Contact Amanda at [email protected] for more information and to be added to our volunteer list. Together, we can continue making a lasting impact on the Apalachicola River, Bay, and the countless places that make this watershed so special.
6/10/26 Amanda James