The 26th Annual Al Haynes Memorial SLV River & Road Clean-up, organized by The Valley Women’s Club, takes place this year on Saturday, September 15th, joining again with Save Our Shores’ annual Coastal Clean-up effort, to raise public awareness about the link between the health of our San Lorenzo River Watershed to the health of the ocean.

In Felton, volunteers can check-in starting at 9 am at the Felton Covered Bridge Park – where CORE’s dedicated volunteers will “captain” the morning effort for Save Our Shores. Then, after 12-noon until 3 pm, folks must come to the Rite Aid parking lot on Hwy 9 to sign in and to return trash, so the Park may be tidied up and returned to recreational use.

Further up the Valley, participants may come any time from 9 am to 3 pm, to the Ben Lomond table on Hwy 9 at 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 at all sites and volunteers will both count their finds and weigh them in – to provide the statistics needed for both SOS and the VWC.

Students can earn Community Service credit for the hours they work and will be provided with forms to confirm their hours worked.

The River & Road Clean-up is again generously supported by the SLV Water District and the County of Santa Cruz. Both will provide dump trucks with drivers to haul recyclables and trash to the Ben Lomond Transfer Station, where the County will provide free disposal of trash. The VWC’s recycling centers will process the recyclable materials.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring cars and trucks to help transport materials to the three pick-up points. 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 sign-in/weigh-in sites, provide trash bags and latex gloves, suggest cleanup locations, and drinks and snacks for the volunteers.

If you know of a place needing special attention this year, or need additional information, please contact VWC Environmental Committee Chair, Nancy Macy, at 338-6578, or 345-1555, or email. Information is also available from Recycling Managing Director, Dave Wright, at 335-1728, or by email. See you there! Bring some friends, and spread the word!

Visit the River & Road Cleanup webpage!