The Catawba Riversweep
October 3rd, 2026
For decades, citizens around the Catawba River Basin have been cleaning up their river, lakes, creeks, and streams to make sure their waterways look beautiful, are safe for swimming and fishing, and are free of pollution.
The Catawba Riversweep is one day a year when citizens from all over the Catawba-Wateree River Basin come together to clean up their shared waterways.
October 3, 2026 will be a day when thousands of neighbors come together at dozens of sites from Lake James to Lake Wateree and everywhere in between. It will be a day of hard work, fun, fellowship, and action!
Be a Riverkeeper for a Day!
The more willing hands and passionate people we have volunteering for Riversweep, the greater an impact we will have on cleaning up our waterways! Read through the list of sites in the drop-down menu below and find the one where you'd like to volunteer. Then, click the link and register for free! Be sure to read ALL instructions and stay tuned for more details that will be coming to your inbox after you register.
How the Catawba Riverseep Began
Beginning in 2002, a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers on Lake Wylie started the Lake Wylie Riversweep and thus began the “Riversweep Tradition” on the Catawba River. Since then, dozens of other groups have continued their tradition with their own local riversweeps in their communities. The dedicated volunteer leaders of this event have generously shared their knowledge with many other community groups across the basin who wanted to start their own Riversweeps!
In 2020, all of these local organizing groups began coming together to show their communities the impact that collaboration and cooperation can have on the health and cleanliness of our River.
Support Riversweep Today!
It takes support of all kinds to execute a basin-wide cleanup of our waterways.
Become a Sponsor
Riversweep is more than a cleanup. It is one of the largest volunteer-driven environmental stewardship events in the Southeast and is a visible demonstration of regional collaboration and community pride. Become a Riversweep sponsor and show your team's commitment to protecting our natural resources financially and with a private Riversweep team cleanup site.
Register Today to Volunteer at the Catawba Riversweep!
Dozens of cleanup sites will be used as “launch points” for volunteers. Every site is unique in size, type of activities (land, boat, kayak, etc.), and amenities.
How to Register: Click on a region in the list below to access the registration links for specific sites.
You can view site locations with the 2026 Riversweep Sites Map below.
Unsure of how the registration process works? Scroll down to watch a video that will help you register today!
REGISTER HERE:
Click on the arrow next to each region of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin to view specific cleanup site locations. Click on a site to register to volunteer.
Register by Tuesday, September 1st, and you'll be guaranteed a free 2026 limited-edition Riversweep t-shirt!
Catawba Above Lake James Cleanup Sites
- Catawba Falls - Coming Soon!
Lake James Cleanup Sites
Lake Rhodhiss Cleanup Sites
Lake Hickory Cleanup Sites
Lookout Shoals Lake Cleanup Sites
Lake Norman Cleanup Sites
Mountain Island Lake Cleanup Sites
Charlotte Creeks Cleanup Sites
South Fork River Cleanup Sites
Lake Wylie Cleanup Sites
Catawba River Below Lake Wylie Cleanup Sites
Fishing Creek Cleanup Sites
Great Falls Cleanup Sites
- Stumpy Pond - Site Captain Needed
Lake Wateree Cleanup Sites
Help Out At Our Supply Return Party!
Volunteer to help Catawba Riverkeeper staff sort, clean, and organize supplies being returned from Riversweep sites after the big event on Saturday, October 3rd! (Link coming soon!)
Unsure of how to register?
Watch this video to learn more about how to sign up to participate in Riversweep.
In 2026, we expect more than 1,200 volunteers to clean up tens of thousands of pounds of trash from 50+ sites across the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. With just 3 short hours of your time, you too can say “I AM A RIVERKEEPER!” You can register as an individual, a business, a school, a church, a neighborhood, or a group of friends today and be a part of the largest river cleanup in the Southeast.
Become a Riversweep Site Captain
If you’re interested in taking on a larger role in The Catawba Riversweep, consider becoming a Site Captain! We rely on site captains to ensure every one of the 50+ cleanup sites throughout the basin run smoothly and safely.
Site Captains are responsible for picking up materials for the cleanup, helping participants sign in, weighing the trash that is gathered, and returning materials to Catawba Riverkeeper.
Watch the video to see if this volunteer opportunity is right for you! You can also view the site registration list above to see which sites are still in need of a Site Captain.
Email Kaity D'Angelo at kaity.d@catawbariverkeeper.org to inquire about becoming a Site Captain for The Catawba Riversweep.
2025 Riversweep Partners
These generous partners and sponsors help make the Catawba Riversweep possible.
If you'd like to become a sponsor, email diana@catawbariverkeeper.org to learn more.
Presenting Sponsor
T-Shirt Sponsor
Lake Partners
Business Partners
Non-Profit Partners
Government Partners
