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 and to keep Tahoe looking beautiful! 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! The Clean Tahoe Program is hosting 10 different cleanup sites along the South Shore of Lake Tahoe as part of the annual Great Sierra River Cleanup. Children of all ages welcome! There will be a volunteer appreciation party after with free drinks and snacks!

Here is a list of their cleanup sites:

Washoe Meadows: Meet at Lake Tahoe Blvd entrance to Washoe Meadows State Park (near Tahoe Mountain Rd)

Ski Run Marina: The parking will be free for the event at the Marina.

Cove East: Park along roadway wherever available near the trailhead to the CTC meadow

Kiva Beach: Park inside the Visitor Center area or at the end of Tallac Road.

Cold Creek: Located at Pioneer Rd intersection, the parking is located at Cattlemans Trail area.

Regan Beach: Parking is in the public beach lot nearby

Trout Creek: Parking is located at Lake Tahoe Community College parking lot.

Upper Truckee River: Located at Hwy 50 intersection, parking is behind the Dragon Buffet near Motel 6

Upper Truckee River-Elks Lodge: Near Meyers, pull off from HWY 50 onto Elks Club Drive and look for the pull out site on the left-hand side.

Sand Harbor: The parking will be free for the event. This area is for non-motorized watercraft users only

Sign up for a cleanup location on cleanup website! http://tahoecleanup.wordpress.com/

Please contact Ellen Flynn at cleantahoe@sbcglobal.net or (530) 544-4210 for details. Regan Beach is the drop-in site.

It’s easy to get involved. Simply reference the contact 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).

Call to confirm date/time.

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