Cleanups To Date

Pitch In All-Santa Cruz Cleanup Day will be May 10th, 2025!

Click Here to Learn More

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

Upcoming Cleanups

  • Boulder Creek Spring Town Sweep
  • Volunteer Center Clean Up (Special Event) @ Pogonip Open Space
    Volunteer to clean up Pogonip removing trash from trails.
    • Time: May 3rd, 2025 @ 9:45am - 12pm (clean up starts at 10am - but please arrive at 9:45 for parking and walking to meeting spot)
    • Meet: Park Entrance at the end of Golf Club Drive (Emma McCrary Trailhead). 501 Golf Club Drive, Santa Cruz CA 95060
    • Please wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes, layers for warm or cold weather and sunscreen. Volunteers will do lots of walking on the trails and some volunteers may use a wheelbarrow to remove larger items.
  • Volunteer Center Clean Up (Monthly) Volunteer to clean up Pogonip removing trash from trails.
    • Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
      May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15
    • Please arrive 15 minutes early to provide time for parking and a short walk to the meeting location.
    • For details and signup, Click Here.
  • Join Save Our Shores cleanups
    • River Cleanup @ San Lorenzo River Levee (April 19 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm)
      San Lorenzo River @ River St South 149 River St S, Santa Cruz, CA
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us near the pedestrian bridge on River St South across from the San Lorenzo Park Plaza.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms or drinking fountains on site. Paid parking lots and metered street parking available nearby, please note River St South is the temporary bus metro and there is limited parking available on this street.
    • Beach Cleanup @ Cowell Beach (April 26 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      Cowell Beach 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the base of the stairs to Cowell Beach, on the right side of the wharf entrance.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: Restrooms and drinking fountains are available onsite. Metered lot and street parking may be limited, please plan accordingly.
    • Beach Cleanup @ Cowell Beach (May 10, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      Cowell Beach 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the base of the stairs to Cowell Beach, on the right side of the wharf entrance.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms available, and no drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
  • Join Coastal Watershed Council!
    A fun, family friendly way to help clean and protect our San Lorenzo River.
    This applies to all River Walk Cleanups:
    Generally, we will meet on the east riverbank between the Laurel Street bridge and the Branciforte Creek pedestrian bridge. Please RSVP below to receive up-to-date location information. We recommend that all volunteers dress in comfortable gardening clothes, including long pants, socks and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Bring layers, sun protection and a reusable water bottle. Gloves, tools and light refreshments will be provided.
    All ages and abilities welcome. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
    Call (831) 464 9200 x104, or email CWC River Ecologist Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy with any questions before the event. RSVP
    • April 19 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
      Earth Day Cleanup at the Tannery Arts Center
      Tannery Arts Center 1010 River St, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
    • April 26 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
      San Lorenzo Park Neighbors Second Annual Day in the Park
      San Lorenzo Park 137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
    • May 10 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
      Pitch In All-Santa Cruz Cleanup Day 2025
      River Health Day
    • June 14 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
      River Health Day
      Santa Cruz Riverwalk
    • July 12 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
      River Health Day
      Santa Cruz Riverwalk
    • September 13 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
      Volunteer to Beautify San Lorenzo Park
      San Lorenzo Park 137 Dakota St, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Cleanups Accomplished

Drew Lake Cleanup

April 5, 2023

Frost still lingered when we arrived at the neighborhood of Drew Lake in Watsonville, on the morning of April 5th. Flood damaged debris was piled in driveways, and along the roadside. Twenty or more people were hauling carpet, furniture, appliances, paintings, clothing, and personal belonging to an already full dumpster. Mud was underfoot. Ramon Gomez, Chief of Staff to 4th District Supervisor Filipe Hernandez directed volunteers from Watsonville Wetlands Watch, community members and teams from Watsonville Works on how to best assist homeowners.

Eddy Rocha whose home was particularly impacted stood in his living room where sheet rock had been removed due to rising water. The air was musty, and light penetrated through the open walls. Most of his belongings were not salvageable. "One cannot get depressed," he said, putting a positive spin on the situation. "We are ok. We are healthy, and it is just a house. You just have to move on." Then he paused and said: "Thank you for your help, it really means a lot."

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Ramon Gomez directs volunteers at the Drew Lake Cleanup.
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Sisters Emilia and Camila Guadian, who volunteer for Watsonville Wetlands Watch muscle a bookcase toward the Green Waste dumpster.
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Kitty Mizino, a retired teacher does her part removing damaged carpet padding from an impacted home.
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Community volunteers and members of Watsonville Works demonstrate good will in the flooded neighborhood.
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Eddie Rocha's home.
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