Auburn residents will have the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day 2025 by giving the Owasco River a much-needed spring cleaning. The Owasco River Earth Day Clean-up event, organized by the Auburn Beautification Commission, Cayuga Climate Action, and the City of Auburn, is set for Saturday, April 26, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The event kicks off with a tour of the Mill Street Hydroelectric Facility, led by the City of Auburn Department of Municipal Utilities. Participants will learn how the Owasco River’s flow is harnessed for energy before heading to the clean-up site.
At 10 a.m., volunteers will gather at the Mill Street Dam near Canal Street and Osborne Street to begin the river clean-up. Participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves and rakes, though garbage bags, leaf bags, and some tools will be provided.
The Earth Day celebration continues after the clean-up with a community Swap Shop at Auburn Public Theater’s Stage Right from noon to 3 p.m. Residents are invited to bring five to ten clean, usable household items—excluding electronics—for swapping. The initiative promotes sustainability by encouraging reuse and landfill diversion. Items can be dropped off at the clean-up site until 11 a.m. or brought directly to APT.
The event is free and open to the public, fostering a spirit of community and environmental stewardship. Those interested in more information can contact Dominic Gambaiani at [email protected].
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