Sacramento Picks It Up!, a local volunteer group that organizes trash cleanup days, has announced its “Keep Our Rivers Wild Campaign!” for 2022. Ambitious in its scope, the campaign is a commitment to clean out the trash from the Sacramento and American Rivers and their tributary creeks and waterways. In addition to the group’s regular cleanup events around Sacramento County, at least one river or tributary will be selected for cleanup each week for the entirety of 2022.
As birders, we are well aware of the havoc trash causes to wildlife. Sacramento Picks It Up! feels the same way too. Their efforts are primarily focused on habitat restoration by ridding it of the plastic bags, soggy mattresses, shopping carts, needles, masks and other detritus found throughout our county but especially on our rivers and creeks.
Trash collected during Arcade Creek cleanup on January 23, 2022. Image used with permission from SPIU! Facebook page.
Sacramento Picks It Up! (SPIU!) is on Facebook and Instagram where they post their upcoming events, share their “trashy” stories and accomplishments. Their enthusiasm for the task at hand is heartwarming and infectious. If you are not a social media type SPIU! now has email alerts listing upcoming events for the month. To join the list, send your request to: sacramentopicksitup@gmail.com
Please consider participating in an event. I’ve gone to some. The trash scenes are apocalyptic but after a few hours of cleanup, hope is restored.
-Daphne Reimer, VP Sacramento Audubon Society
See video from a recent clean-up event.
Upcoming SPIU! Events
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Location: Camp Pollock, 1501 Northgate Blvd.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Join Sacramento Picks It Up for another clean-up in the area around Camp Pollock on the American River. The clean-up may involve a short walk into the Woodlake section of the American River Parkway, or it may stick a little closer to the roadway near Northgate Blvd and Del Paso. We will determine in the morning the best focus of our work.
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Location: Duck Pond at McKinley Park, Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento
Time: 10 a.m. - noon
Come out and help pick up around the neighborhood at beautiful McKinley Park. Let's build some community and beautify this park, the areas around Sutter Middle School, and our roadways! We'll meet by the Duck Pond at McKinley Park. This is a great event to bring children to, and anyone that needs community service credits is more than welcome!
Bring your buckets, trash bags and pickers--and high visibility clothing is encouraged.
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Location: Garden Highway and Truxel along Steelhead Creek. Park at 1740 Creekside Oaks Drive.
Time: 9:00 a.m. - noon
Join Sacramento Picks It Up! for part 3 of a much-needed clean-up along Steelhead Creek near the intersection of Garden Highway and Truxel Road. Parking is available at the business park at 1740 Creekside Oaks Drive. From there it's a short walk up Truxel to the clean up site, which is just a bit east of where we cleaned in the first two clean-up efforts. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes such as hiking boots. This terrain is uneven with steep and sometimes slippery slopes, muddy ground, and lots of branches and brambles. You’ll get a great workout while making a difference!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Participation in any SPIU! events is at your own risk. If you participate in any group events promoted by Sacramento Picks it Up!, you agree to hold harmless any organizer, person, and/or organization involved.
SAFETY FIRST! We always recommend good quality gloves and use of a trash picker, plus sturdy shoes. Terrain may be uneven, wet or muddy. Long-sleeves and long pants are advised. If you are on Facebook, you can also check out the GUIDES tab for various helpful tips on gear, safety protocols and 311 requests etc.
All events are BYOB (buckets) & G (gloves and grabbers)! Please also bring your own water and snacks. We have extra supplies to loan out if anyone needs anything.
… and thank you for volunteering to clean up our city and its waterways.