You can help improve San Lorenzo River habitat at River Health Days!
Are you interested in improving San Lorenzo River habitat to help native species of bugs, birds, fish, and plants thrive? Then sign up today for a River Health Day! At these monthly events, you help remove invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry and ice plant and reintroduce native species such as mugwort, willows, and sticky monkey flower. By revegetating the river bank, volunteers like you slow the spread of invasive plants along the 2.5-mile-long Santa Cruz Riverwalk and cultivate plants that provide bank stability, food, shade, and shelter for birds, insects, and wildlife. At the end of each River Health Day, you can look back on the habitat you helped with the people you connected with, and know that you made a difference in your community. Sign up for a River Health Day below to get important information about a specific event, such as where to meet.
Learn More About Volunteer River Health Days with CWC:
- Led by CWC’s River Ecologist, volunteer activities may include removing invasive species and caring for native plants, such as sowing seeds, pulling weeds, spreading mulch, watering, and more.
- All ages are welcome. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Habitat restoration activities require moderate physical activity on uneven terrain.
- We recommend that all volunteers dress in comfortable gardening clothes, including long pants, socks, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. Bring layers, sun protection, and a reusable water bottle.
- Gloves, tools, and light refreshments will be provided.
Sign up for a River Health Day and help San Lorenzo River habitat thrive!
River Health Days Volunteer Sign Up
Volunteer with the Coastal Watershed Council to volunteer to make a difference for native habitat at the San Lorenzo River
Learn More About Native Plants of the Lower San Lorenzo River
Plant Profile: Sandbar Willow
by Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy, CWC River Ecologist Description Sandbar Willow is a native tree or shrub whose range includes the majority of the United States up to Canada. Locally it grows along the Lower San Lorenzo River and is only known to occur in two other locations...
Plant Profile: Oregon Gumweed
Oregon Gumweed (Grindelia stricta) is a California native plant that the Coastal Watershed Council is establishing along the banks of the lower San Lorenzo River to improve the health and diversity of the river ecosystem. Learn more about this beneficial plant that...
2025 Seed Palette Reveal for the San Lorenzo River
by Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy, CWC River Ecologist After many hours of thought and deliberation, the Coastal Watershed Council has chosen our 2025 seed palette to plant along the San Lorenzo River this winter as part of our efforts to grow native plants from seed to...
Plant Profile: Coast Tarweed
Written by Vinusha Ramesh, SVHS student and Coastal Watershed Council Restoration Intern Description Madia sativa, commonly known as Coast Tarweed, is an annual herb found in grasslands and disturbed areas. It exhibits small, dense, sunflower-like yellow flower heads...
Plant Profile: Western Goldenrod
Contributing Author By Zola Nesbitt, CWC Watershed Steward Every second Saturday of the month, CWC (Coastal Watershed Council) leads River Health Days where volunteers help plant and care for a variety of native plant species to increase biodiversity and habitat...
Plant Profile: Sticky Monkey-Flower
Sticky Monkey Flower is a native drought tolerant plant that attracts pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies in Central California.
Plant Profile: Black Sage
Black Sage is a perennial subshrub that is scientifically known as Salvia mellifera. Being the most common sage in California, this shrub is found in foothills, canyons, mesas, and chaparrals.
Plant Profile: Deerweed
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Plant Profile: Beach Strawberry
Photo Credit: Flickr Commons Every second Saturday of the month, CWC (Coastal Watershed Council) leads River Health Days where volunteers help plant and care for a variety of native plant species to increase biodiversity and habitat complexity and support a healthy...
Recent habitat enhancement news:
CWC Relaunches River Stewards Program with People First of Santa Cruz County
People experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz are again receiving weekly hands-on training in river habitat restoration techniques thanks to the recent relaunch of the River Stewards program, a unique partnership between the Coastal Watershed Council and People First...
Healing the San Lorenzo River with River Stewards
by Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy, CWC River Ecologist This October, the Coastal Watershed Council is marking ten years of habitat enhancement efforts on the lower San Lorenzo River driven by hard-working volunteers! To celebrate, we want to highlight the most recent chapter...
Plant Profile: Sandbar Willow
by Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy, CWC River Ecologist Description Sandbar Willow is a native tree or shrub whose range includes the majority of the United States up to Canada. Locally it grows along the Lower San Lorenzo River and is only known to occur in two other locations...
The River Health Day Program is generously supported by the following sponsors:
County of Santa Cruz Measure Q
Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary
Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club
The Awesome Foundation – Santa Cruz Chapter
County of Santa Cruz Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commission
Kaiser Permanente
California Coastal Commission
1% for the Planet
New Leaf Community Markets
Packard Foundation
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County