Julia Sand/Winonan

Winona State University, St. Mary’s University, and the Winona community came together as part of Clean Winona to restore the former beauty of Shive Creek.

About 50 students of Winona State and St. Mary’s, along with Winona Mayor Jerry Miller, Winona Dive and Rescue, Mugby Junction, Miller Scrap, and many other Winona community members, spent nearly three hours on Saturday, Oct. 27 cleaning the trash from the banks and water of Shive Creek.

In the 1900s, Archer Daniel Midland, a flax straw processor, took their many tons of by-product, shive, to the creek to burn. Hence, the creek became known as “Shive Creek.”

The creek, which flows from Lake Winona under Mankato Avenue to the Mississippi, was once used for recreational purposes. Eric Barnard, coordinator of Clean Winona and Instructor/ Director of Outdoor Education and Recreation Center, said the creek is now an eyesore.

There is always trash on either side of the ditch, and a car and refrigerator have been pulled out of the creek, Barnard said.

However, Saturday’s project moved Shive Creek was one step closer to its former glory.

“Just getting 100 people together for three hours, you can get a lot done,” Barnard said.

Barnard explained that the creek’s ditch is so steep that volunteers are unable to climb it themselves.

“We used ropes and harnesses for the steep banks to lower students with trash bags and canoes for students to get into the water and remove items such as tires, air conditioners, bikes, and shopping carts to name a few,” Barnard said.

St. Mary’s provided the boats, while Winona State provided the climbing and repelling gear, Barnard said.

He explained that cleaning the creek is also important because if it isn’t flowing, “Lake Winona will rise and houses will flood.”

Additionally, cleaning Shive Creek is much more than improving Winona’s environment.

Many people who grew up in Winona, such as Jerry Modjeski of Winona Mechanic, spent time fishing and swimming in the creek; his stories made Clean Winona’s first project that much more special.

Joe Tadie, coordinator of Clean Winona and Assistant Professor of Philosophy at St. Mary’s University, said, “It is so cool to hear their stories. They want kids to have the childhood that they had.”

Tadie explained Modjeski was “fired up” when he heard about the clean up of the creek.

Tadie and Barnard also think the collaboration of Winona State and St. Mary’s University is beneficial.

“The coolest part is that all of us are committed to collaborating. Everyone has their own angle, [but we’re all] sharing a couple of hours of service,” Tadie said.

Winona businesses also contributed to the project. Bloedow’s Bakery provided donuts, and Mugby Junction provided coffee for volunteers.

“Overall, a great success with a bunch of laughing and smiling while we were cleaning this resource,” said Barnard.

Barnard and Tadie both foresee Clean Winona to continue in future years and this year as only the “first step.”

“We can pick one spot of our community that is becoming an eye-sore, and we can change it into a new, useable space,” Barnard said.

Contact Julia at [email protected]