Love Lady Bird Lake but hate the styrofoam washed up along its shoreline?  Join Team KAB, The Trail Foundation, and Watershed Protection in an increased effort to put the finishing touches on this beautiful asset to our community.  This program is made possible thanks to generous funding from TheTrail Foundation and Watershed Protection.

Clean Lady Bird Lake

Lady Bird Lake is described as the crown jewel of Austin, and for good reason. With miles of trails, places to picnic or play with your dog, canoeing and kayaking access, and close proximity to Downtown, Lady Bird Lake exemplifies the active/laid back Austin lifestyle.

While it tops many people’s list of places to take visitors it also tops the list of places KAB gets trash complaint calls about.  Nine watersheds (Eanes, Barton, West Bouldin, East Bouldin, Blunn, Harpers Branch, Johnson, Shoal, & Waller) flow into the lake and after every storm an increase in trash on the lake’s surface is apparent as trash washes from the streets --> storm drains --> creeks --> lake.   Over the years KAB has regularly organized cleanups of the lake and thousands of volunteers have pitched in to pickup trash.  However, as the city continues to grow the amount of trash does to, so volunteers are stepping up their cleanup efforts. 

CLICK HERE to see photos of volunteers in action!

Action Plan

• Large Scale Cleanups every other month featuring on-the-water, as well as, shoreline volunteers.  Click on the below dates to sign up. 
  • Clean Sweep, April 4th
  • June 6th, 2009 - 184 pre-registered volunteers & 3,395lbs of trash removed. CLICK HERE to see fun photos
  • August 8, 2009 - 225 pre-registered volunteers & 3,400+lbs of trash removed.  CLICK HERE to see fun photos
  • October 17, 2009 - 211 pre-registered volunteers & 2,000+lbs of trash removed.  CLICK HERE to see fun photos. 
  • December 5, 2009 - CLICK HERE to see fun photos of the Polar Bear Volunteers!
  • 2010 Cleanups Scheduled for the 2nd Saturday every other month: February 13th, April 10th, June 12th or 20th, August 14th, October 9th, & December 11th
• One-Time Cleanups:  Anyone can do their part to keep Lady Bird Lake clean.  KAB will provide all of the cleanup supplies, arrange to have the full trash bags collected, and can help you find the perfect spot on the lake to cleanup.  Click here to get started
• Runner’s Rubbish Report:  Regular runners send in a weekly report of where the trash is currently located around the lake, so volunteers know exactly where to target.  Click here to learn more.
• Property Owner’s Partnership: Own property along the lake and want to demonstrate your commitment to keeping it beautiful?  Join our list of property owners who commit to making regular cleanups of the portion of lake bordering their property part of a standard grounds maintenance plan.  Contact Jessica@KeepAustinBeautiful.org for more information.
• Adopt-a-Creek:  Dozens of creeks have already been adopted throughout Austin, and cleanups along those creeks catch trash before it makes its way to the lake.  Click here to adopt your very own creek.
• Rapid Rain Responders: A team of volunteers will use their own boats to tackle trash that floods into the lake after rainstorms.  If you'd like to join this dynamic team fill out our volunteer application and write Rapid Rain Responder in the "other" field.

For more information email Jessica@KeepAustinBeautiful.org , call 512.391.0622, or fill out our volunteer application and select the Lady Bird Lake options.