Riversweep

October 4th, 2025

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 on the same day. October 4, 2025 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!



In 2025, 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.

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 below in the drop-down menu 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 your 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.

Donate to Riversweep!

2024 Riversweep Cleanup Locations the Catawba-Wateree River Basin

2025 Cleanup Site Locations Coming Soon!


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.


  • 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

  • South Fork River Cleanup Sites

  • Charlotte Creeks Cleanup Sites

  • Lake Wylie Cleanup Sites

  • Catawba River Below Lake Wylie Cleanup Sites

  • Fishing Creek Cleanup Sites

  • Great Falls Cleanup Sites

  • Lake Wateree Cleanup Sites

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