Nevada City, CA August 28, 2019 – For the 22nd year, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) is calling on volunteers and the local community to sign up for its Annual Yuba River Cleanup, which is set to take place on Saturday, September 21, 2019. Volunteer registration is now open at YubaRiver.org. Slots are already filling.
The Yuba River Cleanup is one of the largest of its kind in the Sierra region, and it relies on the power of 1,000 volunteers to work at dozens of sites across the region, from Donner Summit to the Lower Yuba. They’ll tackle everything from hauling out tires and car parts to picking up “micro-garbage,” like cigarette butts and bottle caps.
“It’s inspiring to see the community turn out for this annual event, where at least a thousand individuals, businesses, agencies and community groups come together with a common goal of cleaning up the Yuba River. Keeping the River clean, safe and healthy requires all us who love the Yuba to be active stewards. The Yuba has already received a lot of love this summer and it’s time to give back. We’re inviting the community to join this high impact event. Dedicating a few hours of work on September 21 will make a significant difference for the health of the Yuba and Bear Rivers.” said Melinda Booth, Executive Director of SYRCL.
According to Daniel Belshe, SYRCL’s Community Engagement Manager, “We couldn’t do this incredible work without our local and regional partners. To date, this effort is supported by State Parks, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, the Army Corps of Engineers, Grass Valley Public Works, Caltrans, Nevada County, as well as many local businesses, clubs, and school groups. And we’ll be welcoming more over the next few weeks. We’re committed to working at 35 Cleanup sites, we just need the volunteer power to do it.”
Last summer, 830 volunteers participated in the Cleanup and removed more than 15,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from 82 miles of rivers, creeks and lake shorelines within the Bear and Yuba River watersheds.
On September 21, volunteers will embark on a watershed-wide hunt to rid the river of everything from cans, bottles and straws, to outlandish items such as washers and trailers. After the Cleanup, volunteers are invited to the Volunteer Appreciation Party in Pioneer Park, Nevada City, from 1pm-3pm, to enjoy music by local band Farrow and the Peach Leaves, great company, and a no-host beer garden. Volunteers registered by Sept. 15 will receive a delicious complimentary lunch.
Keeping the river from being trashed is more than a one-day-a-year activity. Since 2012, a group of dedicated volunteer River Ambassadors have spent every summer weekend educating folks at popular river crossings about how to keep the river clean and safe. This dedicated team promotes an ethic of responsible, non-polluting use of the river by speaking one-on-one with visitors at crossings, beaches and on trails. Using a friendly, non-confrontational approach, River Ambassadors bring awareness to the polluting impacts of trash and dog waste, the dangers of broken glass, and the catastrophic potential of wildfire.
“The River Ambassador program and Yuba River Cleanup produce tangible benefits to our community, but these efforts have real, concrete costs. Volunteers, and even those who can’t make it to the Cleanup, can help support a clean river year-round by asking friends and family to sponsor their day of service through the Clean-a-thon fundraiser. No donation is too small, gifts of $10 or $20 add up quickly,” said Julie Pokrandt, Development Director.
If you have questions about volunteer registration or donating to the Clean-a-thon, contact Daniel Belshe, Community Engagement Manager, at (530) 265-5961 x201 or daniel@yubariver.org.
About the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL): Based in Nevada City, CA, SYRCL (pronounced “circle”) is the leading voice for the protection and restoration of the Yuba River watershed. Founded in 1983 through a rural, grassroots campaign to defend the South Yuba River from proposed hydropower dams, SYRCL has developed into a vibrant community organization with more than 3,500 members and volunteers. See: www.yubariver.org