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 two years of the Great Sierra River Cleanup, more than 7,500 volunteers joined together to remove over 270 tons of trash and recyclables from watersheds throughout the Sierra Nevada. Hundreds of community groups spread across 22 counties and 700 river miles pulled appliances, cigarette butts, beverage cans, baby diapers, tires, furniture, and more from the rivers and streams that supply California with around 65% of its water.

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! This community event will take place on Saturday, September 17th. The San Joaquin River Stewardship Program is hosting the following cleanup sites within the San Joauin watershed as part of the 2011 Great Sierra River Cleanup:

Mendota Wildlife Refuge - Refuge shore cleanup and Kayaks/Canoes cleanup. Reservations required for boats. You will be meeting at the HWY 180 entrance to the Refuge at 8:30am. Ends at 2:30pm. Sign up at http://sanjoaquinriver.sportical.com/events/648

Skaggs Bridge - Shore and Kayaks/Canoes cleanup. Meet at 8:00am at Skaggs Bridge Park, HWY 145 & the San Joaquin River. Ends at 3pm. Reservations required for canoes and kayaks. Sign up here: http://sanjoaquinriver.sportical.com/events/647

Lost Lake - Cleanup of the shores of Lost Lake Park. 8:30 to Noon. Sign up here: http://sanjoaquinriver.sportical.com/events/828

Friant Cove - Shore cleanup at Friant Cove, immediately below Friant Dam. 8:30 to Noon. Sign up at http://sanjoaquinriver.sportical.com/events/722

It’s easy to get involved.  Simply contact the organization using the above links and/or information provided below, or visit http://www.sierranevada.ca.gov/rivercleanup 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 17, 2011