Cleanups To Date

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

Upcoming Cleanups

  • December 12 (9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
    Show your Holiday spirit for Mother Earth and join us for a Community Cleanup in Watsonville
    near Rolling Hills Middle School in Watsonville
    • Meet at 255 Holm Road
    • Parking lot of church of Latter Day Saints
  • Join Save Our Shores for these winter cleanups
    • Beach Cleanup @ Corcoran Lagoon Beach (January 11, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us at the end of 20th Ave at the top of the stairs that lead to the beach
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms or drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
    • Beach Cleanup @ Capitola Beach (January 18, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: 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.
    • Beach Cleanup @ Hidden Beach (January 25, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am)
      • Registration is required
      • Meet Up Location: Please meet us by the benches overlooking the beach near the end of the path, past the playground.
      • Facilities & Accessibility: There is a porta potty on site, no drinking fountain available. Parking is 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.
  • Join Coastal Watershed Council for River Health Days!
    River Health Day

    Date: December 14, 2024
    Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
    Location: Santa Cruz Riverwalk

    All ages and abilities welcome. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. See Below for additional information and dates:

    Call (831) 464 9200 x104, or email CWC River Ecologist Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy with any questions before the event. RSVP for this and other River Health Day events.

    Sign up for the day you would like to volunteer!*
    • Sat, December 14th 10:00 a.m.-12:00pm
    • Sat, January 11th 10:00 a.m.-12:00pm
    • Sat, February 8th 10:00 a.m.-12:00pm
  • Every Monday Main Beach Cleanup in front of Board Walk at 8:00AM (join us!)

    "We really need the community to step up and help clean Main Beach, especially after Memorial Day. Today we found two dead sea birds, a dead sea otter pup along with what we regularly pick up, numerous cans, food packaging waste and cigarette butts."
    - citizen activist Donna Maurillo

Cleanups Accomplished

Interlaken Cleanup

January 28, 2023

The blue skies and nearly balmy weather on Saturday, January 28th 2023 defied our recent memory of atmospheric rivers and deluges of rain. Many areas in Santa Cruz county were devastated by the dramatic weather, waves, and flooding. The Interlaken Region of South Santa Cruz County was one such area, with homes and agricultural fields overtaken by flooding and debris.

A community clean-up was organized by Ramon Gomez, Chief of Staff of County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez (4th District) and sponsored by The Trash Talkers, County of Santa Cruz, and Watsonville Wetland’s Watch. Engaging nearly one hundred volunteers, most of whom were youth members from the Watsonville Church of the Latter Day Saints, participants worked tirelessly to assist in restoring the neighborhood.

With broad smiles and positive attitudes volunteers put on their gloves and got to work. Working in teams, volunteers removed sand bags, and plastic from homes and driveways for pick up by members of County of Santa Cruz Public Works who contributed their time on a Saturday. Going door to door FEMA flyers were handed out and homeowners were given assistance from helping remove flood damaged appliances and carpet, to replacing furniture.

A special thank you to Matt Hackwell, Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of the Santa Cruz county area, Karen Faurot, Rosa Meyer, and Cynthia Simunovich for their inspirational leadership and support of the volunteers.

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Volunteers carry sandbags to the street for Public Works pick up.
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“It was a positive and gratifying experience to help elderly folks who had no one to assist them,” said one volunteer.
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Everyone pitched in ~ Community volunteers, Santa Cruz County Public Works and our Sheriff Nick Solano!
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January 28th Interlaken Clean-up Volunteers.
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