Volunteers of All Ages
Beneficial Native Plants
Corporate Teams, Schools and Community Groups
The Coastal Watershed Council’s River Health Day program engages corporate teams, community volunteers and youth groups to remove invasive species, plant native plants and improve ecosystem health along lower San Lorenzo River. In addition to the direct ecosystem benefits, this work reintroduces the community to the river through meaningful, positive experiences in nature.
Each summer, the Coastal Watershed Council takes time to measure the progress made at its 3-acre restoration site along the Santa Cruz Riverwalk between the Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street bridges. Over the past year, 465 volunteers of all ages attended River Health Days, rolled up their sleeves and helped bolster the San Lorenzo River ecosystem.
The restoration actions of each River Health Day vary throughout the year to address the greatest need within the restoration site, adapting to precipitation, river flow, soil conditions, Fish and Wildlife permits and biological activity along the river corridor, such nesting and seeding. During winter and spring events, CWC staff lead volunteers in revegetation, installing and bolstering beneficial riparian plants such as willows, perennial forbs or shrubs against invasive competitors like iceplant. In the dryer seasons, volunteers remove vigorous iceplant tendrils and cut the seed heads of invasive pampas grass or brooms before the time of their explosive distribution.
Companies, clubs and youth groups across Santa Cruz County have generously given their time, their financial support and engaged their employees in making a difference. We couldn’t accomplish all we have this year without the tremendous support of River Health Day sponsors:
- Schwemm Family Foundation
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Employee Conservation Action Fund
- Patagonia Santa Cruz Outlet
- Western Digital
- Poly
- Newman’s Own Foundation
- Omega Nu of Santa Cruz
- Helen and Will Webster Foundation
- Kaiser Permanente
In addition to these generous sponsors, CWC was joined at River Health Days by students, employees and friends of the following schools, coporate teams and community groups this year:
- Patagonia Santa Cruz Outlet
- Kaiser Permanente
- Lighthouse Bank
- Santa Cruz Warriors
- Looker
- New Leaf Community Markets
- Poly
- Downtown Streets Team
- Emerging Leaders Circle
- Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project
- Yoso Wellness Spa
- Hotel Paradox
- Pacific Cookie Company
- Environmental Innovations
- Ecological Concerns, Inc.
- Central Coast Wilds
- California Coastal Commission
- EcoGoods
- KindPeoples
- 99 Bottles
- All Hands Workshop
- Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce
- David Lyng Real Estate
- City of Santa Cruz
- University of Exeter
- Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School
- Bay View Elementary
- Branciforte Middle School
Join the Next River Health Day
River Health Days happen every 2nd Saturday of the month and can be scheduled at your convenience for a group of 15 people or more. Check out CWC’s event calendar to see when the next River Health Day is happening, sign up below or contact CWC River Scientist Whitney Reynier via email at wreynier@coastal-watershed.org or by phone at (831) 464-9200 x104 to schedule your very own River Health Day experience with your school, colleagues or group.