On Saturday, September 20th, 2025, the Russian Riverkeeper community came together for our 39th Annual Russian River Watershed Cleanup — our biggest cleanup event of the year! This monumental day saw 21 cleanup sites stretching from Ukiah to Monte Rio, uniting hundreds of volunteers, partner organizations, and community groups in one mission: to protect and restore our watershed environment for the benefit of current and future generations. 

A Record Turnout, A Cleaner River 

With 520 volunteers rolling up their sleeves across the watershed, the collective effort removed an incredible 13 tons of trash from tributaries, the main stem, and surrounding communities. Of that, 8 tons were hauled out from Mendocino County, with the remaining 5 tons collected throughout Sonoma County. In addition, an overflowing truckload of tires was collected! 

We had three central dumpster locations in Sonoma County and one in Mendocino to handle the massive cleanup operation across the watershed— an essential step in keeping waste contained and responsibly disposed of. While we’re proud of what was removed, this year’s data also revealed an encouraging trend: less trash was found in Sonoma County than in previous years. This promising result may reflect the success of our expanded cleanup and education efforts throughout the year, showing that consistent care truly makes a difference. 

Community, Culture, and Connection 

One of the most memorable moments came at the Healdsburg Memorial Beach site, where the Progressive Tribal Alliance opened the event with a blessing ceremony. The words of Dillon Williams honored the river as a living relative, reminding us all that stewardship is not just about cleaning — it’s about relationship and respect. 

Adding to the spirit of the day, Congressman Jared Huffman joined volunteers on the ground, getting his hands dirty alongside community members and showing his ongoing commitment to protecting California’s watersheds. 

And among the more unusual discoveries? A violin and even a piano — found submerged and too large to remove at the time! It now tops the list of “too big to haul” items we’ll plan to revisit during a future extraction effort. 

Part of a Statewide Effort 

Our cleanup was proudly part of California Coastal Cleanup Day, the largest single-day volunteer event in the state. Across California, tens of thousands of volunteers joined forces to remove hundreds of tons of waste from beaches, creeks, and waterways — all working toward one shared goal: a cleaner, healthier environment for generations to come. 

Thank You to Our Partners and Sponsors 

This event would not have been possible without the incredible collaboration of our partners, sponsors, and volunteers. We extend our deepest gratitude to: 

Together, these partnerships make our river stronger, our communities more connected, and our shared future brighter. Every piece of trash we remove helps us achieve a thriving, resilient Russian River.  Thank you to everyone who gave their time, energy, and heart to make this year’s cleanup such a success — we couldn’t do it without you!