A collaborative region-wide watershed cleanup effort.
September 20, 2025
15+ partner organizations. 20+ cleanup sites to choose from. Join in the action to help save our watershed!
About the Great Sierra River Cleanup
Join Sierra Nevada Alliance and our host sites throughout the Sierra Nevada for the Great Sierra River Cleanup (GSRC) on Saturday, September 20th, 2025.
GSRC is a Sierra-wide watershed cleanup event coordinated by Sierra Nevada Alliance in collaboration with California’s Coastal Cleanup Day.
In 2024, 46,201 volunteers removed 398,654 pounds (199 tons) of trash from the Sierra Nevada waterways and across the state’s entire coastline. Check out the 2024 Final Report for more details on last year’s event. We’re looking to expand our efforts in 2025 to make an even greater impact.
You can be part of the solution and volunteer to help remove litter and plastic pollution from our beloved Sierra Nevada watershed!
The Great Sierra River Cleanup (GSRC) is one of many California Coastal Cleanup Day events. Previously hosted by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the Sierra Nevada Alliance is very excited to take the reigns as the GSRC coordinator, and to continue the statewide effort to reduce plastic pollution and litter in and around our Sierra waterways.
Can’t make it this year? You can still show your dedication to pollution-free watersheds through a donation to support event costs.
History of Coastal Cleanup Day
The idea for a statewide cleanup was started by Oregon resident Judy Neilson in 1984. Judy organized the “Plague of Plastics” event in October of that year due to rising concerns over the amount of plastic debris along the coast. In 1985, California emulated those efforts and created the California Coastal Cleanup Day, led by the Coastal Cleanup Commission.
In 1993, California Coastal Cleanup Day was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “largest garbage collection” ever organized, with 50,405 volunteers. Since then, the reach of Coastal Cleanup Day has spread inland, as most of the marine debris that we find on our beaches actually starts as urban trash or street litter.
For more information on California Coastal Cleanup Day, visit the Coastal Cleanup Commission’s page.
About the Sierra Nevada and the Alliance
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range that lies primarily in the state of California with the Carson Range spur expanding into Nevada. The Sierra runs 400 miles north to south, and 50 to 80 miles east to west. The Sierra houses General Sherman, the world’s largest tree by volume; Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America; and Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 United States.
The Sierra is rich in natural resources. It produces 60% of California’s water supply and supplies the state with 50% of its hydroelectric energy. Wildlife is abundant with 3500 plant, 572 animal, and 321 aquatic species. This is a big weight to bear, all while hosting 788,000 residents and 50 million annual visitors.
This region is at risk, and the Alliance is leading the way to build resiliency in the face of climate change and explosive wildfire.
Our Mission: We unite people and organizations to protect Sierra Nevada ecosystems and communities.
Our Vision: Every Sierra ecosystem and community is healthy, resilient, and collectively cared for through thriving partnerships as a legacy for future generations.
Your continued support allows us to protect this precious area.
Find A Cleanup Site
Below is the map to see this year’s participating organizations and their cleanup sites to choose from and join on.
Stay Tuned for 2025 Event Information!
2024 Cleanup Host Sites & Locations
Alpine Watershed Group: Meeting Pt – Markleeville Library Park, Markleeville, CA; Sites are in the Woodfords Canyon area.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Kappa Omega Omega Chapter: Truxton Lake, Bakersfield, CA
American River Conservancy: Hangtown Creek, Placerville, CA; ARC Nature Center, Coloma, CA
Butte Environmental Council: Hooker Oak Park, Chico, CA
California State Parks: Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, Friant Cove Day-Use, Friant, CA
Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation: Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Incline Village NV
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD): Camanche Reservoir, Valley Springs, CA; Mokelumne River Day Use Area, Clements, CA; Middle Bar, Valley Spring, CA
Eastern Sierra Land Trust – Friends of the Inyo: Artesians, Bishop, CA
Friends of Auburn Ravine: McBean Park, Lincoln, CA
Friends of Plumas Wilderness: Spanish Ridge Trailhead – Cascade Trail before Oakland Camp, Quincy, CA
Foothill Conservancy: Vaught’s Beach, Jackson, CA
IVGID Waste Not: Meeting Point – Incline Recreation Center, Incline Village, NV; Cleanup Sites are throughout Incline Village, NV and Crystal Bay, NV
Keep Tahoe Blue: Zephyr Cove/Shoals, Zephyr Cove, NV
Kern River Conservancy: NOTE THIS CLEANUP IS ON SEPTEMBER 14TH. Keyesville Campround – North Entrance, Lake Isabella, CA
Placer Land Trust: *FULL* NOTE THIS CLEANUP IS ON SEPTEMBER 8. Clementine Beach Preserve, Upper Lake Clementine Rd, Auburn, CA
San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust: Sycamore Island, Madera, CA
Sierra Club – Tahoe Area Group: Sawmill Pond, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Sierra House Elementary School (Schoolyard Cleanup): Sierra House Elementary School, South Lake Tahoe, CA
South Yuba River Citizens League: NOTE THIS CLEANUP IS ON SEPTEMBER 28. Various sites throughout Nevada, Sutter, and Placer County, CA
Town of Mammoth Lakes – Mammoth Lakes Recreation: Mammoth Lakes Trail System – Horseshoe Lake Trailhead, Lakes Basin, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Upper Merced River Watershed Council: Briceburg Visitor Center Parking Lot, Mariposa, CA
Site Captain Resources
Host a cleanup *Closed for the 2024 Annual GSRC, Please see Find a Cleanup Site*
Supply Storefront for Participating Organizations *Need to be logged In to see supplies*
Coordinator and Host Site Captains Manual
Example Timelines and Site Captain Ideas
Coastal Cleanup Commission’s Site Captain Guide
Marketing Toolkit
Please feel free to use these toolkits to advertise your cleanups. Also please tag Sierra Nevada Alliance for your social media posts promoting your cleanup so we can also share it on our social media.
California Coastal Commission Marketing Toolkit
Waivers
English Digital Version; English Printable Version
Data Collection
Volunteer Forms
Coordinators can choose between using the CleanSwell App or a physical data form. We recommend sticking to one method for your cleanup.
- CleanSwell app
- Volunteer Data Form – Linked on Supply Storefront or can print out yourself: English Form and Spanish Form
Site Captain Forms
Site Captains must total the amounts onto their forms and submit this information back to SNA.
- Site Captain Summary Sheet – REPORT INFORMATION TO SNA ON SEPTEMBER 21st BY 1:00PM
- Site Captain Data Form – REPORT INFORMATION TO SNA BY OCTOBER 15
- SNA GSRC Summary Sheet
Water Pollution Science
Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean – Jambeck et al, sciencemag.org
The Cost To West Coast Communities Of Dealing With Trash, Reducing Marine Debris – Kier Associates for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
Life in the “Plastisphere”: Microbial Communities on Plastic Marine Debris – Erik R. Zettler et al
Valuing Plastics: The Business Case for Measuring, Managing and Disclosing Plastic Use in the Consumer Goods Industry – United Nations Environment Programme
Video: Microplastics in the Sierra Nevada: from peak to pipe – Monica Arienzo, Desert Research Institute
Microplastics in the Lake Tahoe Basin – Desert Research Institute
Event Sponsors
Thank you to our generous Great Sierra River Cleanup sponsors dedicated to addressing the challenges facing the Sierra Nevada. Givers like you make it all possible.
Contact Us
Contact us if you have questions about the event, to learn more about the Great Sierra River Cleanup, or to become a host site at greatsierrarivercleanup@sierranevadaalliance.org.
