Watertown Makes a Lasting Impact This Earth Day

In celebration of Earth Day, Watertown members and community volunteers came together for a meaningful afternoon of service at Stokes-Thomas Kampeska Lake City Park—removing litter and restoring the natural beauty of Lake Kampeska’s shoreline. Their efforts resulted in an impressive 152 bags of trash collected, a powerful testament to what can be accomplished when a community unites for a common cause.

This local project was part of the broader Unite for Water initiative, which brought together 259 Rotary clubs and more than 8,100 Rotarians across the Upper Midwest. While each club focused on its own community, the shared mission was clear: protect and preserve our water resources for generations to come.

Rotary Water SD’s Earth Day project reflects the spirit of Rotary in action—where even the smallest contributions add up to create meaningful, lasting change. Whether volunteers picked up a single piece of litter or filled multiple bags, every effort played a role in improving the health of the lake and strengthening community pride.

Thanks to the dedication and teamwork of everyone involved, Lake Kampeska is cleaner, and the impact of this day will be felt well beyond Earth Day.