River City Waterway Alliance (RCWA) is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to cleaning, restoring and protecting the imperiled waterways of the Sacramento region. RCWA works in partnership with public agencies and community groups to raise awareness about environmental damage to our waterways, engage volunteers to clean and restore those waterways, and advocate for policies to improve the long-term ecological health and sustainability of our creeks, streams, rivers and sloughs. 

Since RCWA’s inception in January 2023, RCWA has hosted more than 1,000 volunteer clean-up events which have removed more than 3.8 million pounds of trash and debris from local waterways and riparian habitats (as of March 2026). 

RCWA’s work addresses important needs in our community. The ecological health of waterways in the Sacramento region is severely degraded by the accumulation of trash that lines creek and river channels and associated riparian habitat. This debris negatively impacts fish migration, spawning and rearing grounds, wildlife habitat, water quality, native vegetation, and flood control. Removal of this trash not only improves the environment, but also improves public safety, recreational access and civic pride. 

RCWA hosts several volunteer waterway cleanups each week to remove trash and invasive vegetation from our local waterways. These events make an incredible impact, removing an average of 3,893 pounds at every event.  RCWA’s events offer local residents hands-on opportunities to take meaningful action to make the region a healthier, safer, and cleaner place to live, work, and recreate.

RCWA has earned several awards for its environmental and community impact, including the “Beacon of Hope” Award from the Sacramento County District Attorney (2025), a “Nonprofit of Distinction” Award from Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty (2025), the “Outstanding Environmental Leadership” Award from the Sacramento County Environmental Commission (2023), and the “Environmentalist of the Year” Award from the Environmental Council of Sacramento (2023).

To find out more about RCWA and to see its calendar of upcoming events, visit RCWA’s website at https://rivercitywaterwayalliance.org/

You can also find RCWA on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For questions or to be put on RCWA’s weekly email newsletter list, email rivercitywaterwayalliance@gmail.com.