Adopt-A-Creek
Austin is a city full of beautiful lakes, rivers, and other waterways. Keep Austin Beautiful is committed to protecting these outdoor spaces, too.
ADOPTED
Protect our waterways
About the program
What is Adopt-A-Creek?
Groups looking to make a lasting commitment to protect our waterways can adopt a creek segment for a minimum of two years through Keep Austin Beautiful’s Adopt-A-Creek program.
Adopt-A-Creek events can focus on litter abatement, invasive species control, native grass and wildflower seeding, tree planting, and stormwater management.
Click below to submit your application to adopt a creek today.
- Search by location
Explore creeks available for adoption in your area
Check out our interactive volunteering map. Just sort by type of opportunity or location to find the right one for you!
What being an Adopt-A-Creek partner entails
When you participate in Adopt-A-Creek, you make a big difference in Austin’s waterways, including their cleanliness, beauty, and safety for all those who use them. As an adopting group, you are required to:
- Adopt a creek segment for at least 2 years
- Conduct at least 4 restoration events annually with a group of volunteers
- Ensure the safety of event participants
- Report volunteer and project information
- Restore the creek habitat through invasive species removal, native plantings, and erosion control
Benefits of adopting a creek
- An Adopt-A-Creek certificate and tile
- Guidance with planning your events
- Access to tools, native plants, and seeds
- Access to Keep Austin Beautiful and Watershed Protection Department staff to provide technical insight and advice
- Cleanup supplies and trash collection
- Adopt-A-Creek giveaways for your group
- Storm drain marking kits
- Monitoring kits for your group to track the progress of your creek segment
- Recognition on the Keep Austin Beautiful website
Submit an application
Click below to fill out an application and adopt a segment of Austin creek!
Our Adopt-A-Creek partner
Thank you to our sponsor
Adopters
Austin Standup Paddleboarders
Bailey Family
Boy Scout Troop 49
Chambord Community
Fairview Neighborhood
Friends of East Bouldin Creek
Friends of Eleanor Gardens
Friends of Quail Valley Spring
Friends of South Zilker Park
Heritage Hills – Woodbridge NA
McKinley Heights Neighborhood Association
Moffitt
Osgiliath
Pack Fourteen Cub Scouts
Phi Kappa Sigma
Sips ATX
South Austin Barefoot Gardeners
South East Austin Trails and Greenways Alliance (SEATAG)
Texas FLO
Texas Fly Fishers
The Ayers Family
The Williamson Family
US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla – Austin
We Can Make It If We Try
Wilshirewood Neighborhood Association
More ways to volunteer
Looking for even more ways to get involved in your community?
Clean Lady Bird Lake
restore our lake
Every other month, Keep Austin Beautiful turns its focus to beautiful Lady Bird Lake. Clean along the shoreline, on kayaks, or on stand-up paddle boards.
Community Cleanups
Organize a cleanup
In addition to the events we host throughout the year, we invite you to organize your own! We provide you with all of the supplies you need to run a successful cleanup.
Keep Austin Beautiful Day
Annual city-wide service
Each April, Keep Austin Beautiful is joined by thousands of volunteers to remove litter, as well as restore green spaces and waterways across the city of Austin.