September 2, 2016 - (Auburn) – The rivers, lakes, and streams of the Sierra Nevada need you! On September 17, from 9 am to noon, volunteers from across the state can join together to remove trash from the waterways of the Sierra Nevada region during the eighth annual Great Sierra River Cleanup. This event, coordinated by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, focuses on keeping Sierra rivers clean and promoting community stewardship in the region where more than 60 percent of California’s developed water supply originates.
Over the last seven years, volunteers have joined together to pull more than 800 tons of trash and recyclables from watersheds in the Sierra Nevada. The effort, in partnership with the California Coastal Cleanup Day, serves to promote good stewardship throughout the state’s watersheds, from the source to the sea.
“Millions of visitors come to the Sierra to enjoy the many natural benefits that the region provides,” says Jim Branham, Executive Officer for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. “Investing just a few hours can make a big difference by keeping these important waterways clean.”
This year’s Great Sierra River Cleanup also kicks off “Sierra Nevada Watershed Protection Week” - a week-long campaign focused on highlighting the benefits the Sierra Nevada region provides, and the challenges that the region is facing. Sierra Nevada Watershed Protection Week was established last year when the legislature enacted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 22 authored by Assembly Member Brian Dahle (R - Bieber).
The Great Sierra River Cleanup would not be possible without the hard work of thousands of volunteers, dozens of local community groups, and our supporters at the California Coastal Commission.
Volunteers can visit www.sierranevada.ca.gov to find a nearby cleanup. For more information, visit the Great Sierra River Cleanup Facebook page.
About the Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Created in 2004, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) is a state agency whose mission is to improve the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada region. The SNC has awarded over $50 million in grants for projects to protect and enhance the health of California’s primary watersheds by improving forest health, remediating mercury contamination from abandoned mines, protecting critical natural resources, and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Funding for these projects came from Proposition 84 passed by voters in 2006.
The Sierra Nevada region spans 25 million acres, encompasses all or part of 22 counties, and runs from the Oregon border on the north, to Kern County on the south. The region is the origin of more than 60 percent of California’s developed water supply.
Source: SNC