The Great Sierra River Cleanup is an annual volunteer event focused on removing trash and restoring the health of watersheds throughout the Sierra Nevada Region. This statewide effort—coordinated by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, in conjunction with the California Coastal Cleanup Day—serves to promote good stewardship on all of our waterways, from the source at 14,000 ft. to the Pacific Ocean.

During the first four years of the Great Sierra River Cleanup more than 14,700 volunteers have joined together to remove over 550 tons of trash and recyclables from watersheds throughout the Sierra Nevada. Hundreds of community groups have spread across 22 counties and 1,280 river miles to pull appliances, cigarette butts, beverage cans, baby diapers, tires, furniture, and more from the rivers and streams that supply the State of California with 65 percent of its water. This effort, in partnership with the California Coastal Cleanup Day, serves to promote good stewardship on all of our waterways, from the source to the sea.

This annual event is more than just picking up trash. It’s a day for local communities—and the visitors who love the Sierra—to demonstrate their desire for clean water and healthy rivers. It's an opportunity to learn about the importance of the Sierra Nevada watershed and the life force we take for granted. It's about bringing together families, neighbors, visitors and friends in a gorgeous setting to accomplish something significant and worthwhile that sustains us and our environment. By volunteering, you will contribute to extricating the next 100+ tons of trash from our precious waterways in order to provide clean water to Californians and its visitors. I'll drink to that!

Make a difference. Come out and join the feel-good-fun! Protect American River Canyons (PARC) is hosting a cleanup site at the Auburn State Recreation Area & Auburn-Foresthill Bridge as part of the annual Great Sierra River Cleanup. Meet at 8 am at the Old Auburn-Foresthill Curved Bridge near the Confluence (3 miles below Auburn near the Highway 49 River Crossing) Check in at the PARC information booth to register and receive your free Confluence Map, (first 75 volunteers), trash collection bags, water and snacks. Wear sturdy shoes; bring gloves and a water bottle. For more information contact the Auburn SRA office at  530-885-4527 or 530-885-8878 or arc@jps.net">parc@jps.net. The cleanup is a river wide cleanup that focuses on the popular Confluence Area. This year it includes a Historic Bridges Tour led by Canyon Keepers at 9 am. This event is co-sponsored by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, which is sponsoring river cleanups throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the Auburn State Recreation Area rangers and staff, the Canyon Keepers, Recology Auburn-Placer, PG&E and Protect American River Canyons.

It’s easy to get involved.  Simply contact the organization using the information provided below, or visit http://www.sierranevada.ca.gov/our-work/rivercleanup/the-great-sierra-river-clean-location-map for more information.

On the day of the cleanup, make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, your friends and family, gloves (may be provided), water (may be provided) and a plastic bucket (optional).

Check out the Great Sierra River Cleanup Video! http://www.youtube.com/user/SNConservancy#p/u/6/5X7Qq-O7gAU

Dates For Participation: September 21, 2013