Cleanups To Date

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 Watsonville Wetlands Watch Cleanup
    Time: October 4 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Location: Pajaro Middle School
    • Plant Trees and Pollinator Plants
    • Tabling by Local Organizations
    • Presentations on Tree Care by Professionals
    • Games and Music
    • Community Service Hours
    Click here for Registration and More Info
  • Join Save Our Shores cleanups
    • Beach Cleanup @ Moran Lake Beach (October 4 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Time: October 4 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
      • Location: Moran Lake Beach 22775 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz
      • Meet: Please meet us in the parking lot across from the beach next to the lagoon.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are restrooms and drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
      • Registration is required
    • Post-Fireworks Beach Cleanup @ Capitola Beach (October 13 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Time: October 13 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
      • Location: Capitola Beach 120 Monterey Ave, Capitola
      • Meet: Please meet us in the Esplanade Park at 120 Monterey Ave.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are restrooms and drinking fountains available on site. Paid parking in the village is limited, additional large parking lot available at 426 Capitola Ave, please plan accordingly.
      • Registration is required
    • Beach Cleanup @ Sunny Cove Beach (October 18 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Time: October 18 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
      • Location: Sunny Cove Beach Johans Beach Dr, Santa Cruz
      • Meet: Please meet us at the end of Johan’s Beach Drive at the main entrance to the beach.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms available, and no drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
      • Registration is required
    • Beach Cleanup @ Hidden Beach (October 25 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Time: October 25 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am
      • Location: Hidden Beach 660 Cliff Dr, Aptos
      • Meet: Please meet us by the benches overlooking the beach near the end of the path, past the playground.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There is a bathroom on site and drinking fountain available in the park. Parking is very limited in park lot, please plan accordingly. Overflow parking available on neighborhood streets, Save Our Shores has been informed by the County of Santa Cruz the permit parking only signs on neighborhood streets are not valid or enforced.
      • Registration is required
  • Join Coastal Watershed Council!
    • Coastal Watershed Council River Health Day @ San Lorenzo River (October 11 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm)
      Plant and maintain native seedlings along the banks of the San Lorenzo River to increase biodiversity and revitalize the river ecosystem. Generally, we meet on the east riverbank between the Laurel Street bridge and the Branciforte Creek pedestrian bridge. Sometimes we meet near Mike Fox Skate Park. Free parking is available in the CWC parking lot at 107 Dakota Ave. Paid parking is also available on Dakota Avenue or across the river in downtown Santa Cruz. The closest parking garage is at 601 Front Street. RSVP to receive up-to-date location information.
    • Coastal Watershed Council River Health Day @ San Lorenzo River (November 8 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm)
      Plant and maintain native seedlings along the banks of the San Lorenzo River to increase biodiversity and revitalize the river ecosystem. Generally, we meet on the east riverbank between the Laurel Street bridge and the Branciforte Creek pedestrian bridge. Sometimes we meet near Mike Fox Skate Park. Free parking is available in the CWC parking lot at 107 Dakota Ave. Paid parking is also available on Dakota Avenue or across the river in downtown Santa Cruz. The closest parking garage is at 601 Front Street. RSVP to receive up-to-date location information.
  • Join a Surfrider Beach Cleanup
    • Surfrider Beach Cleanup at Main Beach (October 5 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Meet: Sign up for meet up details.
  • Keep Capitola Salty
    • Saturday, October 11, 2025

Cleanups Accomplished

Paulsen Road Cleanup

March 28, 2024

On March 28th in the early morning drizzle, Supervisor Hernandez’ Office led by Chief of Staff Ramon Gomez, along with Santa Cruz County Community Development and Infrastructure Department, City of Watsonville, Watsonville Works and numerous volunteers joined together to cleanup up Paulsen Road in Watsonville. 

Paulsen Road is beautiful area, with important agricultural land, Casserly Creek, and home to numerous birds and other wildlife.  It is constantly being “trashed” by illegal dumping. And it needs to stop!

As the sun returned to a brilliant blue sky, volunteers collected volumes of trash, dumped carpet, sofas, furniture, tires and other debris. Over 2 and ½ County truckloads of illegal dumping were removed from the area.  A special shout out and Thank you to Ramon Gomez for organizing this cleanup and to volunteers Eileen, Maria, Clark, Nayeli and Susan for participating.

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