NOTICE: The May 7, 2022 Medina River Cleanup has been cancelled this year due to the extreme drought, which does not allow enough flow to paddle in many areas of the river.

Medina River Cleanups – 2020 and 2019 Report

For more information on the cleanup:
Robert Brischetto
210-413-7264
rrbrischetto@gmail.com

To register for our email list, email:
Sharon Sloan, Secretary
sloanmedina@cs.com

For questions about the Medina River Protection Fund:
Don Sloan, Treasurer
sloanmedina@cs.com

2020 Cleanup Planned for May 2, 2020 – The 20th Annual Medina River Cleanup

More than 200 volunteers from all over Texas are expected to gather at the Bandera City River Park by the dam to clean 12 sections totaling 50 miles of the pristine Medina River.

What you need to know to participate:

Registration: 9 am to 12 noon at Bandera City Park, Maple St. and Hwy 173 at the Medina River Dam. Click here for a map.

Meals provided: County Commissioner Bobby Harris and his cooking crew will provide breakfast tacos and coffee, lunch, and a three-meat Bar B Que dinner with entertainment from 5 to 7 pm.

Free T-shirt to all volunteers

Camping - Free or Reduced Rate Camping for May 1st and 2nd: As in the past, free tent camping will be available at Bandera City Park and Pioneer River Resort (across hwy 173 from the park). Hot showers are available at Pioneer River Resort. RV sites with full hookups are also available at Pioneer at a reduced rate. For reservations call 1-866-371-3751 or 830-796-3751 or email Judy Pace at pioneerrr@sbcglobal.net.

Flyer for Distribution: Download flier as a pdf document here.

Release of Liability form: Each volunteer must complete this form at or before registration. An adult signature is required for those under age 18. Click “Liability Release” in the left margin to download the form.

Paddle & Clean a Section of the River
Shuttles should be arranged with the head of each section. Click on “Section Heads” in the left margin to view contact information for each section head. Information on section heads may be updated closer to the cleanup. Canoes or kayaks are the responsibility of the paddlers and coordination with section heads on the shuttles is necessary. If you have a group or would like to sponsor an open section, contact the coordinator, Bob Brischetto, at rrbrischetto@gmail.com

Click on “Medina River Maps” in the left margin to download a pdf version for different sections of the river.

Medina River Protection Fund is an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) charitable organization. If you would like to support this effort with a tax-deductible donation, please make your check payable to "Medina River Protection Fund" and mail to:

The Medina River Protection Fund
P.O. Box 417
Lakehills, Texas 78063

Thank you for your participation and your donation. With your help, we can ensure a future for the Medina River amid the growth and development that is taking place in Bandera County.

Report of the 2019 Cleanup - The 19th Annual Medina River Cleanup

On May 4, 2019, more than 250 volunteers from 35 Texas towns and as far away as Cambridge, MD participated in the river cleanup. Volunteers ranged in age from 2 years to 92 years old. One-third were teens or younger due to participation of four Boy Scout troops and a girl scout troop. One-fourth were over 60 years of age and 64% were male. Approximately one-half of the volunteers paddled the river while the other half cleaned debris from the bank and/or helped with food preparation, registration, etc.

The cleanup removed approximately 7,000 pounds of recyclable metal including an entire automobile. Board Member Jim Randle and his son accomplished the car removal later in the summer when the river level dropped to allow equipment into the area. And approximately 2 tons of non-recyclable trash were also removed.

Precinct 2 County Commissioner Bobby Harris and his crew kept the Bar B Que grill going all day. They provided breakfast tacos and coffee at registration, lunch later, and at the end of the cleanup, served a three-meat barbecue dinner to all participants. Rodney Joe Smith and Woody Wood’s group  entertained with country western music.

Sponsors of this year’s cleanup included the Lake Medina Conservation Society, Texas Rivers Protection Association, Bandera County Commissioners Court, the City of Bandera, the City of Bandera Economic Development Corp., Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District, Lowe’s Market Bandera, Johnny Boyle, Jr. of Bandera Wine and Spirits and Bandera True Value, Kerrville Recycling, H.E.B. Grocery Stores, Zanfel Laboratories, and The Medina River Co.

The annual river cleanup is conducted as a service of to the Bandera community and surrounding area by the Medina River Protection Fund which is a 501(c)3 public charitable organization. The Medina River Protection Fund was established as a perpetual fund to engage residents and businesses throughout the area in a citizen-based effort to preserve and protect the river. Bobby Harris is President and Don Sloan is treasurer. Tax-deductible donations may be made out to:

The Medina River Protection Fund
PO Box 417
Lakehills, TX 78063

Look for photos of the cleanup on our Pictures page.

Thank you for your participation and your donation. With your help, we can ensure a future for the beautiful Medina River amid the growth and development that is taking place in Bandera County.