Addressing an urgent problem

The ecological health of the local waterways in the Sacramento region is severely degraded by the accumulation of trash and inorganic debris that line our creeks, sloughs, canals, and river channels, banks, levees, and associated riparian habitat. Items such as textiles (rugs, clothing, sleeping bags), furniture, mattresses, tents, batteries, hypodermic needles, plastics, Styrofoam, glass, shopping carts, and electronics are typical items removed by RCWA volunteers.  The source of this trash varies, but includes homeless encampments, illegal dumping, and trash carried through stormwater sources. Many of these items are responsible for armoring the bottom of the channels, thereby choking out oxygen and impeding fish spawning migration.  The trash accumulation also increases flood risks by impeding natural water flow, increases accumulation of sediment and causes dams.

Other deleterious byproducts related to human occupation of our waterways include soil compaction, bank and levee erosion, destruction of wildlife habitat, wildfires, and public health and safety concerns associated with water pollution caused by toxic chemicals, hypodermic needles, fecal matter and other pathogenic waste. 

How RCWA Works

RCWA is committed to addressing these problems by engaging local citizen volunteers to remove trash at organized events along local waterways, most notably the American River, Sacramento River, Steelhead Creek, Arcade Creek, as their significant tributaries. RCWA promotes these events through Facebook, Instagram, and a weekly email newsletter.  Volunteers use an arsenal of tools and supplies to remove trash, including shovels, grabbers, buckets, ropes, wheelbarrows, hay hooks, hand-winches, and cultivators. 

RCWA offers a variety of physical tasks for all ability and skill levels, including easy-to-grab trash (i.e. lightweight plastics) to heavy or difficult items such as wet mattresses, buried textiles, and furniture.  Volunteers are strongly encouraged to only do what they feel comfortable doing and to ask for help and take breaks as needed.  There is something for everyone and all volunteer efforts are lauded and appreciated.  RCWA’s events are excellent opportunities for citizens to get involved to directly and meaningfully address the problem of trash in our local waterways. 

Participants include a core volunteer team of 30 – 40 experienced waterway stewards, new volunteers reached through social media, and more than a dozen governmental and nonprofit partners. Some of RCWA’s public agency partners include Sacramento County Regional Parks, Sacramento County Storm Water Utility, Sacramento Area Sewer District, City of Sacramento Department of Utilities, Sacramento City Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment (YPCE) Central Valley Water Quality Control Board, Reclamation District 1000, and the American River Flood Control District. Other partners include Elk Grove Anti-Trash Volunteers, Arcade Creek Adopt a Creek Project, Friends of Steelhead Creek, Forensiclean, Save the American River Association (SARA), and more. 

The Sacramento Area Creeks Council is a very close partner with RCWA, providing mentorship and fiscal sponsorship for many of the volunteer needs.

To learn more about RCWA, click here.

Join us on a cleanup!

If you’d like to volunteer on one of our cleanups check out our Facebook page by clicking River City Waterway Alliance Events

Past events can be seen on our YouTube Channel.

Drop a note to rivercitywaterwayalliance@gmail.com if you’d like to be on our email list. We’ll keep you updated on future cleanup events.

As an all volunteer organization we can use your help!