Cleanups To Date

JOIN US FOR THE 2026 PAJARO VALLEY COMMUNITY CLEANUPS!

Why it Matters?
Engaging in cleanups enhances our community's cleanliness and serves as a powerful initiative to combat climate change.

Next Clean Up Dates

September 24, 2026
October 22, 2026

9:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Stay tuned for the release of the location
community Service hours are given!

Download Flyer

Mark your Calendar for May 9th, 2026 for the Third Annual Pitch In All County Cleanup Day. Working together We Can Make Santa Cruz the Cleanest County in the State.

Opportunities to participate will be updated here on a regular basis.

Upcoming Cleanups

  • Join Save Our Shores cleanups
    • Holiday Beach Cleanup @ Cowell & Main Beach (September 7 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Location: Cowell Beach 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz
      • Meet Up: Please meet us at the base of the stairs to Cowell Beach, located on the right side of the wharf entrance.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are restroom and drinking fountains available. Parking is very limited, please plan accordingly.
      • Registration is required
    • Holiday Beach Cleanup @ Corcoran Lagoon Beach (September 7 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Location: Corcoran Lagoon Beach 20th Ave, Santa Cru
      • Meet Up: Please meet us at the end of 20th Ave at the top of the stairs that lead to the beach.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms or drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
      • Registration is required
    • Annual Coastal Cleanup Day (September 19 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)

      Join Save Our Shores for the largest cleanup event of the year!

      Each year Save Our Shores coordinates over 50 cleanup sites around the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, from the coast to our inland parks and waterways. Trash and pollution impacts the health of our marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems. We hope you will join us as we come together as a community to make the Monterey Bay a healthier place for all!

      Volunteer registration is now open! Visit Save Our Shores event page to learn more and follow the steps to sign up as a volunteer.

  • Join Clean Ocean International Cleanups!
    • International Coastal Cleanup 2026 Moran Lake Beach, Santa Cruz (September 19 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm)

      Our next community cleanup is part of the International Coastal Cleanup, an annual global effort that brings volunteers together to remove and document debris from beaches and waterways.

      Each September, COI joins this worldwide effort with a cleanup here in Santa Cruz County. This year, COI is serving as the Site Lead for the Moran Lake Beach cleanup in collaboration with Save Our Shores. It's a great opportunity to get outside, meet other members of the community, help protect our local coastline, and contribute to a much larger effort to understand and address marine debris.

  • Join San Lorenzo Park Neighbors Cleanups

Cleanups Accomplished

Home▸Cleanups Calendar▸Interlaken Cleanup

Interlaken Cleanup

January 28, 2023
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Click to view the flyer

The blue skies and nearly balmy weather on Saturday, January 28th 2023 defied our recent memory of atmospheric rivers and deluges of rain. Many areas in Santa Cruz county were devastated by the dramatic weather, waves, and flooding. The Interlaken Region of South Santa Cruz County was one such area, with homes and agricultural fields overtaken by flooding and debris.

A community clean-up was organized by Ramon Gomez, Chief of Staff of County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez (4th District) and sponsored by The Trash Talkers, County of Santa Cruz, and Watsonville Wetland’s Watch. Engaging nearly one hundred volunteers, most of whom were youth members from the Watsonville Church of the Latter Day Saints, participants worked tirelessly to assist in restoring the neighborhood.

With broad smiles and positive attitudes volunteers put on their gloves and got to work. Working in teams, volunteers removed sand bags, and plastic from homes and driveways for pick up by members of County of Santa Cruz Public Works who contributed their time on a Saturday. Going door to door FEMA flyers were handed out and homeowners were given assistance from helping remove flood damaged appliances and carpet, to replacing furniture.

A special thank you to Matt Hackwell, Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of the Santa Cruz county area, Karen Faurot, Rosa Meyer, and Cynthia Simunovich for their inspirational leadership and support of the volunteers.

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Volunteers carry sandbags to the street for Public Works pick up.
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“It was a positive and gratifying experience to help elderly folks who had no one to assist them,” said one volunteer.
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Everyone pitched in ~ Community volunteers, Santa Cruz County Public Works and our Sheriff Nick Solano!
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January 28th Interlaken Clean-up Volunteers.
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