SYRCL’s 27th Annual Yuba River Cleanup A Success

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) held its 27th annual Yuba River Cleanup event on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 9am to noon. SYRCL would like to thank the 500+ volunteers who donated more than 1,500 hours to help remove trash from nearly 80 miles of the Yuba watershed. SYRCL would especially like to thank the 22 individuals who took on the extra responsibility of being a site leader at the many different sites throughout the watershed. 

While data from the Cleanup is still being compiled, early indications are that a little over 5 tons of trash and recycling were removed from the watershed this year.

Along with the usual trash found during the Cleanup such as plastic bottles, broken glass, zip ties, and the ubiquitous cigarette butts and plastic dental floss picks, our volunteers pulled out nearly 60 tires from the watershed. Some of the stranger items found this year were an abandoned whip, an old wig, some sort of hand-made adult tricycle, a deer carcass wrapped, and a counterfeit $100 bill. 

The Annual Yuba River Cleanup is the culmination of SYRCL’s river stewardship during the river season, a season that begins with their River Ambassador program. The SYRCL River Ambassador program ran on the weekends from 10am to 2pm at Highway 49 and Bridgeport Crossings (with a couple of days at Edwards and Purdon Crossing as well) from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In the summer of 2024, River Ambassadors interacted with over 6,597 (19%) of the over 34,980 visitors they counted at the crossings, including 4,426 from out of town (73%) and 610 Spanish speakers (9%). Through their interactions, River Ambassadors encouraged river safety, fire safety, and proper trash disposal. They picked up over 6,971 pieces of trash, including 1,009 cigarette butts, and 431 dog waste bags. 

All in all, the Yuba River watershed is healthier and cleaner thanks to the enormous outpouring of time, energy, and concern by the community. SYRCL is proud to have helped lead this effort and is grateful to all the volunteers who donated their time and effort, as well as all the individuals, agencies, businesses, and organizations who helped sponsor SYRCL’s work. 

“I deeply appreciate all of the people and businesses that showed up for the Yuba at the Cleanup this year. We all get to enjoy a cleaner, safer watershed because of their dedication,” says SYRCL Executive Director Aaron Zettler-Mann. “I dream that someday those who pack it in also pack it out. But until that day, it’s awesome to be part of a community that’s willing to roll up their sleeves and take care of the places they care about.” 

This year’s Cleanup was made possible in part with the support of sponsors and in-kind donors. Sponsors of the 2024 Cleanup were Latrobe Fund, Briar Patch Food Co-Op, Yuba Water Agency, Teichert & Sons, AJA Video, A One Tax, Stantec, Balance Hydrologics, Grass Valley Provisions, 49er Breakfast Rotary of Nevada City, Teichert Rock Products, California Solar Electric Cooperative, Smile Business Products, SCO Planning & Engineering, Safeway Foundation, State Farm – Mike Bratton, Gold Country Kiwanis Club, Sierra Gold Parks Foundation, Gold Rush Subaru, B & C Ace Home & Garden Center, Sierra College, Coldwell Banker Grass Roots Realty, Economy Pest Control, Nevada City Self Storage, Clientworks, Four Paws Animal Clinic, All Phase Heating & Air, SRC Party Rentals, Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, and RentHop. 

In-kind contributions were made by Waste Management, Recology, SPD, and Holiday Market. 

This year’s theme was “Together for Tomorrow” which expresses the power of a community that comes together for a common cause. The threats we are challenged with in the face of an uncertain future, one amplified by climate change and the indifference or ignorance of humans to their impact on the landscape, can seem overwhelming. It is SYRCL’s hope that an event like the Yuba River Cleanup is empowering and shows the community the power of collective action. 

Check out more photos below: