Clean Our Waters: A Local Effort to Keep Southwest Florida Beautiful

Gus Oros
Feb 19
3 min read

One of the best parts about living in Southwest Florida is the water.

Whether it’s boating on the bay, kayaking in a canal, fishing off the dock, or just enjoying a sunset over the Intracoastal…

Water is part of our life here.

But water doesn’t stay beautiful on its own.

It takes people paying attention.

And for a few years now, we’ve been part of something that does just that — Clean Up Florida Waters.

To us, it’s not a big production.

It’s just a group of neighbors rolling up our sleeves to help make the places we love a little cleaner.

🧹 What “Clean Our Waters” is all about

This event is part of a statewide effort where local REALTORS®, community members, and volunteers get together to clean up local waterways — lakes, canals, backwater inlets, beaches, and more.

It’s not glamorous.

No big trophies.

No huge sponsor banners.

Just real, physical work — picking up trash and debris that doesn’t belong in our water.

For several years, members of the NABOR community involvement team have taken part in this project with Florida REALTORS®.

We’ve joined cleanups in spots like:

along Vanderbilt Drive waterways
Pine Ridge Road areas
Rookery Bay
other local waterways that feed into the bay and Gulf

And every time it’s been meaningful.

🐚 Why it matters more than you think

A waterway isn’t just a pretty view.

It’s part of life here.

It’s where we:

boat
swim
fish
paddleboard
walk the dog by the shore
watch the kids chase pelicans

But when trash collects in canals or along shorelines, it affects:

wildlife
fish and bird habitats
water quality
the way our outdoor lifestyle feels

And let’s be honest…

An empty plastic bottle or old fishing line might not seem like a lot…

…but when it piles up across miles of canal and bay, it changes the picture.

So picking up just a little bit — one bag, one stretch of shoreline, one day at a time — actually DOES make a difference.

🤝 It’s a good reminder of how communities show up

One of the things you notice when you’re out there picking up trash with a group of people is this:

There’s no awkwardness.No pressure.Just neighbors helping make a place better.

You end up talking to people you’ve never met.Sharing stories about favorite spots on the water.Laughing when someone finds something weird in a pile of debris.

And by the end of the cleanup, you walk away feeling like you actually did something — not just “talked about it.”

🌴 It’s part of how we live here

Southwest Florida is water life.

And keeping it clean is not just a “nice idea.”

It’s part of our lifestyle.

Because when the water is clean…

People fish a little longer.Families enjoy the beach a little more.Kids splash with less worry.And neighbors share that feeling like:

“We’re lucky to live here.”

That’s why days like Clean Our Waters stick with you.

It’s a small effort that ends up meaning a lot.

🔗 Community Stories (More Like This)

🌊 If you live here, you know…

Our waterways aren’t just scenery.

They’re part of everyday life.

And helping keep them clean — even just for a few hours — feels good.

Written by a local San Carlos Park homeowner + realtor:

Augusto Oros — 239-273-4708