- Date: March 28, 2026
- Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
- Event: Removal of trash from trash trap
- Location: Mouth of Walnut Creek into Lake Johnson
- Parking: Drive past Thomas Crowder Woodland Center (5611 Jaguar Drive, Raleigh) and continue into the dirt parking lot of Athens Drive High School stadium parking. Trailhead is at the far right or north corner of parking lot. Follow trail straight ahead to boardwalk/bridge and cross over to the trash trap. A volunteer will be posted in the parking lot to direct you to the trail.
Trash traps are cages that collect and trap trash as it floats down a waterway. South Wake Conservationists, in partnership with Sound Rivers and The Great Raleigh Cleanup, has the opportunity to monitor and clean a new trash trap installed in Walnut Creek at the mouth of Lake Johnson. We will be provided with 7 waterproof chest waders.
Sound Rivers guards the health of the Neuse and Tar/Pamlico river basins. They work with individual groups to protect and preserve these water sheds that cover 1/4 of North Carolina. The Great Raleigh Cleanup is dedicated to creating a litter free Raleigh. As well as collecting and weighing trash, they are conducting a comprehensive study of the quantity and type of trash found in our creeks. They also release GPS bottles to find patterns in how litter floats down our streams.
Since this will be the first trash trap removal at this site, we will be learning together how to accompish this task – so expect a fun learning curve! Our goal is to have a core group of volunteers to return to this site on a scheduled quarterly rotating basis.
Plan to wear comfortable clothing that is OK to get dirty. The chest waders will cover feet, legs, waist and chest, but not arms or shoulders, so a long sleeved swim type shirt might feel good.
Please register below:
South Wake Conservationists 