The 32nd Annual River & Road Clean-up, organized by The Valley Women’s Club (www.valleywomensclub.org), takes place in Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond and Felton on Saturday, September 15th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lompico
Community Center holds their annual Clean-up the same morning from 9 to noon. The VWC and Lompico coordinate the effort with Save Our Shores, whose morning Coastal Clean-up now reaches up the River. Each organization emphasizes the link between the health of the San Lorenzo River Watershed to the health of the Bay and the Ocean, and needs volunteers of all ages to come help clean up trash.
In Felton, volunteers can check-in at the table at the Felton Covered Bridge Park starting at 9 am, and can continue until 3 pm. Further up the Valley, participants may come to the Ben Lomond table right on Hwy 9 between Fillmore St. and The Tyrolean Inn. The third site is at 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.
Safety is paramount during the Cleanup. Volunteers are required to sign a waiver of liability, and children 12 and under must be with an adult. Anyone working along the River or a creek must have a buddy. Bring gloves and wear sturdy shoes and readily visible clothing. Safety vests are available. Large signs warning drivers about volunteers on the roads will be posted along clean up routes.
Students can earn Community Service credit for the hours they work; forms are provided.
The River & Road Clean-up is again generously supported by the SLV Water District and the County of Santa Cruz. Each provides a dump truck and drivers to haul recyclables and trash to the Ben Lomond Transfer Station, where the County will provide free disposal of the trash. The VWC’s three SLV Redemption/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, and are encouraged to enlist help from family and friends.
Valley Women’s Club volunteers will staff the SLV sign-in/weigh-in stations; they will provide trash bags, latex gloves, snacks and water, and can suggest cleanup locations. Volunteers with trucks are needed.
If you know of a place needing special attention this year, or need additional information, please contact VWC Environmental Committee Chair, Nancy Macy, at 831/338-6578, or email at nbbm@cruzio.com.
