On an early September morning along the Trinity River, Cristian Agudelo was already at work. The sun had barely crested the horizon, casting a soft glow over the water, and the riverbank was littered with the usual detritus: cans, bottles, shoes, even bits of styrofoam. Most volunteers at the Tarrant Regional Water District’s Trash Bash would stick to the easy-to-reach spots — but Agudelo had a different plan.
Armed with extended pool poles and nets — tools from his family-run business, Elkin’s Pool Service — Agudelo tackled the embankments others couldn’t reach. “There are these embankments along the river that volunteers just can’t get to,” he says. “That’s kind of where I came in.”
For Agudelo, a Texas Wesleyan alumnus, the choice to get involved was personal. He had long noticed the trash piling up along the Trinity Park segment during his weekly walks, particularly behind Whole Foods. “I walk there at least once a week,” he says. “You could just see all the trash sitting there, and nobody was really doing anything about it. This event felt like the perfect time to clean it up, finally.”
This year’s Trinity River Trash Bash took place on Saturday, Sept. 20. The event is part of a 30-year commitment by the Tarrant Regional Water District to engage local communities in litter prevention. Every year, volunteers scour the waterways, removing everything from everyday garbage to long-forgotten debris. Over the decades, more than 500 tons of trash have been pulled from the rivers, creeks, and tributaries across Tarrant County…