Russian Riverkeeper is pleased to announce the 36th annual Russian River Watershed Cleanup on Saturday, September 17th, 2022! This event is part of an international effort to celebrate and honor the Clean Water Act’s 50th Anniversary. On this day we’ll join with Waterkeepers around the world to keep our planet clean for fishable, swimmable, drinkable waters everywhere!
Sonoma County is one of the most beautiful places to experience the natural environment as evidenced by the many residents and tourists we see recreating on the Russian River every year. As an unfortunate consequence of human activity, trash inevitably enters our waterways after accumulating over the summer months. The Russian River Watershed Cleanup will ensure that it is free of trash in order for people to continue to enjoy the river and reap the benefits of our local treasure. Getting the trash out of the river environment elevates the Russian River’s attraction for visitors and residents alike. Due to heavy recreational use and a large concentration homeless across the watershed, the entire Russian River requires a large effort! It is our goal to keep the river clean and also to build stewardship in the community to protect the river for wildlife and people.
Russian Riverkeeper has been successfully protecting and restoring the Russian River since 1993. We are in our 8th year of managing the Russian River Watershed Cleanup after taking this effort over from its founders. We are proud to be carrying on in the 36th year of this local tradition! Our annual efforts have removed over 355,000 pounds of trash from the river (that is more than one-and-a-half blue whales of trash)! Our Cleanup is still the single biggest cleanup event for the Russian River. In 2021, Covid forced us to limit volunteer signups and implement safe gathering practices, and we revived the annual cleanup with great success. We were able to remove over 12,000 pounds of trash on the cleanup day and organized 356 volunteers across the watershed! As we gather again this year, we hope to increase those numbers as we help keep our river clean and free of trash.
This year there will be teams across the watershed from Ukiah to Monte Rio with our main hub in Healdsburg at Memorial Beach—all contributing to the shared mission of protecting our river and ocean from trash pollution. We will strive to beat our record of 35,000 pounds of trash, 175 tires, and 452 volunteers, and we can only do it with you. The Russian River Watershed Cleanup is your opportunity to help shape the future of river parks, trails and riparian habitats, all needed for healthy ecosystems.
This is your chance to volunteer with us at your local water hub! Volunteers will receive our special annual T-shirt as well as an entry into our raffle to win excellent prizes from local businesses! Cleanup signups will be open starting August 1st 2022 at www.russianriverkeeper.org/rrwcd.
If you would like to sponsor the 36th Annual Russian River Watershed Cleanup, we need you! Sponsorships fund cleanup supplies, safety training, disposal and hazardous waste fees, and volunteer recruitment and appreciation. Funds will also amplify your voice to keep polluters and regulators accountable. Please email info@russianriverkeeper.org to learn more about sponsorship benefits. A HUGE thank you to our sponsors who have already pledged their support!
We encourage you to join in the spirit of stewardship, community, and fun! Our River is our most valuable natural resource and benefits our entire community. Your support is very much needed and appreciated. We hope you choose to become involved in this fun, worthwhile day and look forward to hearing from you!
Thank You to Our Partners and Sponsors!!!
