Highlights
- Volunteers removed 900 pounds of trash from Oak Creek Canyon in a single three-hour cleanup session.
- The haul included 44 pounds of dog feces, human waste, and diapers, according to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
- ADEQ spokesperson Erin Jordan cited E. coli as the primary health risk from waste left in waterways.
- ADEQ is organizing a statewide cleanup for Nov. 14 and is seeking volunteers.
Volunteers cleared 900 pounds of trash from Oak Creek Canyon in three hours during a recent cleanup, including 44 pounds of dog feces, human waste, and diapers, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality reported.
ADEQ spokesperson Erin Jordan said the waste creates direct health risks for swimmers. "Generally, E. coli is our major concern," Jordan said. "If we are ingesting that water, it can impact our health, you know, it can cause stomach issues."
Diapers and human waste are not the only problem. Earlier this year, crews pulled 22 pounds of vapes from the Salt River.
"Trash in our waterways in general is a big problem in Arizona," Jordan said.
The agency is asking anyone heading to a swimming hole this weekend to pack a trash bag with their gear. Volunteers handle cleanups but are not present daily, and ADEQ says individual visitors need to carry out what they bring in.
ADEQ is organizing a large coordinated cleanup for Nov. 14 and is seeking volunteers. Information is available through the agency's website.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 03/09/2026 04:46
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 03/09/2026 04:46. Every claim traces to a source.
