In an attempt to beautify College Creek, which runs through Iowa State’s campus, the Richardson Court Association environmental committee arranged a “Clean the Creek” day.

According to a press release, Dave Johnson, RCA environmental chairman and coordinator of the clean-up, said the amount of garbage that had been deposited in the creek has ravaged one of ISU’s most renowned trademarks.

The group tackled the litter in and around the creek area, which runs from the Memorial Union to RCA, last Saturday. Group members scattered around the area, picking up paper and larger trash items.

“The build-up of litter in the creek area over the winter months destroyed one of the most beautiful places on campus,” Johnson said. “With the help of other environmental students in RCA, we removed all of the litter along the banks of the creek.”

Several RCA houses volunteered to help with the project.

Brian Anciaux, environmental committee member and vice president of Barker House in Lyon Hall, said about 15 students participated in the clean-up.

Anciaux said the group started its clean-up at Lot 63 by Maple-Willow-Larch Halls and ended the job at Lincoln Way. He said the entire process took about three hours.

“We were pleased to have people come out,” Anciaux, junior in mechanical engineering, said, adding the RCA environmental committee plans to clean the creek once a month.

The participants said they are pleased with their work.

Lisa Sinnott, environmental chair for Fosmark House in Oak Hall, said she was happy the group did something that will directly impact the environment.

“It was great. It was messy; some of us got a little dirty, [but] it was good,” Sinnott, freshman in art and design, said. “We were doing something that was for the environment. It was a good outing.”

Anciaux agreed the creek’s look has improved significantly.

“[The creek] looks great; every time I walk past it, I get a sense of satisfaction,” he said.

In other RCA environmental news:

• The environmental committee set up a dozen can and pop bottle recycling bins around campus, including at Engineering Annex, McKay-LeBaron Hall, Pearson Hall, Gilman Hall, Heady Hall, RCA Complex Office and the Hub.

• March 28 will be “Clean RCA Day.” The residents of RCA houses are expected to gather and dispose of litter around their buildings. “We expect a lot of houses to participate in the effort to make their home[s] cleaner,” Johnson stated in a press release.