Creek, river and ocean cleanup events
The annual Russian River Watershed Cleanup Day is this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 15. Volunteers will collect trash from riverbanks and by canoe that morning, as part of an effort organized by the Russian Riverkeeper, working with local businesses, governments and conservation organizations.
Launched in 1987 by two paddling clubs affiliated by the Sierra Club, the first cleanup in 1987 had 40 people cleaning up a section of the river between Alexander Valley and Healdsburg, in donated canoes.
In recent years, there are up to 80 canoes each year and hundreds of volunteers, who collect, bag and deliver trash to another group of volunteers, who sort recycling.
In 2017, the Russian River Watershed Cleanup had 462 total registered volunteers, collected over 27,000 pounds of trash and diverted 4,405 pounds of recycling. Visit http://russianrivercleanup.org/ to sign up for a cleanup.
Saturday is also Coastal Cleanup Day, where volunteers take shifts to collect trash along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Visit https://coastwalk.org for more information and to register.
Other cleanup events
September is busy with creek cleanup events as well. In Healdsburg, the 16th annual Foss Creek Cleanup will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 8 to 11:30 a.m., starting at the Healdsburg Community Center. All volunteers will receive breakfast and a commemorative t-shirt. Once the cleanup is concluded, volunteers are encouraged to stay for a free safety fair taking place until 2 p.m.
The annual Laguna de Santa Rosa cleanup will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon in Sebastopol. Volunteers can meet at the Americorps Trailhead, along Morris Street (next to The Barlow) and walk areas of the Laguna looking for trash and debris.
Coast, river, creek and laguna volunteers should wear sturdy shoes and clothing that can get wet and dirty. Don’t forget gloves, hats and sunscreen. Bring a water bottle.
— Ray Holley
