Al Haynes, first Watershed Analyst for the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, wrote a grant for the Water District to establish the first River & Road Clean Up thirty years ago. He reached out the the Valley Women’s Club to help him enlist volunteers and manage publicity. After the first year, the VWC coordinated the project, with the continuing support of Al and the Water District. The District still provides a dump truck and two employees to haul materials, and the County of Santa Cruz also provides a dump truck and driver, along with free trash disposal at the Transfer Station.

Since 2007, when Save Our Shores (SOS) decided to establish clean up sites along the river with the beaches during their Annual Coastal Clean Up, the VWC has worked with SOS in the mornings and then continued cleaning up into the afternoon.

Separately, volunteers from the Lompico Community Center have also held an annual Clean Up in their canyon, for over 30 years! And, from 2007 through 2014, SLV CORE helped by staffing the mornings for SOS at the Felton Covered Bridge site, with the VWC handling the afternoons.

Clean up with us!

THIS year, along with the Clean Up, the VWC will be celebrating this 30-year community commitment to protecting the health of the San Lorenzo River, and the Bay into which it flows. The Celebration will take place at the Felton Covered Bridge Park, in the area by the Clean Up sign-in table, with games and refreshments, and displays honoring the many individuals and organizations that have helped over the years.

To help with the Clean Up in Felton, volunteers can check-in starting at 9 am at the Felton Covered Bridge Park, returning their trash and recyclables by 3 pm. (In Lompico the Clean Up is from 9 to noon.) Further up the Valley, participants may come any time from 9 am to 3 pm, to the Ben Lomond table on Hwy 9 near Fillmore St., or to the SLV Redemption/Recycling Center (behind the Village Wash & Dry) in Boulder Creek. The morning effort is co-sponsored by Save Our Shores.

Students can earn Community Service credit for the hours they work!

Volunteers are encouraged to bring vehicles to help transport materials to the three pick-up points; volunteers who fill up their trucks may request a voucher for free disposal at the Transfer Station. The VWC’s SLV Redemption/Recycling Centers will process the recyclable materials.

Safety is imperative during the Cleanup, so volunteers will be required to sign a waiver of liability, and children 12 and under must be with an adult. Bring gloves and wear sturdy shoes and readily visible clothing.

The Valley Women’s Club will staff the SLV sign-in/weigh-in sites, provide trash bags, latex gloves and snacks, and can suggest locations needing attention. If you know of a place needing special attention this year, or need additional information, please contact VWC Environmental Committee Chair, Nancy Macy, at 831/338-6578, or 831/345-1555, or by email.

You are encouraged to volunteer to help staff the tables, or help with preparations ahead of time. Contact Nancy to do so!

Pictured: Quinn Becker, Mark Becker, Peter Gelblum, Michelle Estrin-Gelblum at the 2015 River & Road Clean Up.