Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
March 2023
We all play a part in preventing stormwater pollution. Here are some ways to get involved in March and help protect our local waterways! All events are free unless otherwise indicated.
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) Community Cleanups – The following in-person cleanup events are being offered in March to divert litter from their respective watersheds and local communities.
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March 4, 9am to 11am – Watershed Warriors: Escondido Community Cleanup – Attend the kick-off at the cleanup site at 9am and then collect trash from around the Escondido community to divert litter from the Carlsbad Offered in partnership with the Escondido Creek Conservancy and the County of San Diego. Learn more or register.
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March 9, 3pm to 5pm – Sunset Sweep: Hollywood Canyon Cleanup – Attend the kick-off at the cleanup site at 3pm and then get out there to collect trash from around the Hollywood Canyon to divert litter from the San Diego Bay Offered in partnership with San Diego Canyonlands and Think Blue San Diego. Learn more or register.
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March 11, 9:30am to 11:30am – Chula Vista Spring Cleaning Event – Attend the kick-off at the cleanup site at 9:30am and then get out there to collect trash from around the Chula Vista community to divert litter from the San Diego Bay Offered in partnership with the Otay Recreation Center and City of Chula Vista. Learn more or register
Surfrider/Coastkeeper San Diego Beach and Neighborhood Cleanups – Join the San Diego chapters of the Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper in their ongoing beach and neighborhood cleanups. Meet at the designated locations below and look for the blue Surfrider or Coastkeeper tent.
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March 4, 9am to 11am – Ocean Beach Cleanup (Surfrider) – Help with a beach and street cleanup at Ocean Beach Pier. Meet at Ocean Beach Veterans’ Plaza. Learn more or register.
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March 4, 9am to 11am – Oceanside Pier Beach Cleanup (Surfrider) – Help with a beach and street cleanup at Oceanside Beach. Meet at the north side of the pier on the beach. Learn more or register.
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March 11, 9am to 11am – Riverbed Cleanup and Restoration at Otay Valley Regional Park (Coastkeeper) – Help rid the riverbed and surrounding trails of debris and invasive plants. Meet at the dirt lot at the 300 Hollister Street river crossing and look for the blue Coastkeeper canopy. Learn more or register.
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March 18, 9am to 11am – Moonlight State Beach Cleanup (Surfrider) – Help with a beach and street cleanup at Moonlight Beach. Meet next to the restrooms. Learn more or register.
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March 18, 10am to 12pm – Imperial Beach (Surfrider) – Help with a beach and street cleanup in Imperial Beach. Meet on the sand behind The Spirit of Imperial Beach Statue in Imperial Beach. Learn more or register.
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March 25, 9am to 11am – Mission Beach – Belmont Park Cleanup (Coastkeeper) – Help with a beach cleanup at Mission Beach/Belmont Park. Meet on the grass next to Mission Beach parking lot and look for the blue Coastkeeper canopy. Registration required for groups of 20 or more. Learn more or register.
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Ongoing – Solo Cleanups (Surfrider) – Participate in safe, physically distant ‘solo’ cleanups on your own – at the beach, in your neighborhood, at your local park, or anywhere in your watershed. Learn more about solo cleanup guidelines, how to tally your trash cleanup activity, and how you can make a difference in preventing trash from reaching the beach in the first place.
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Six Cleanup Challenge, Flexible Dates/Times (Coastkeeper) – Form a group and participate in the Six Cleanup Challenge to positively impact communities and outdoor spaces up and down the watershed. Pick up trash from two challenge sites in three categories: coastal, inland, and urban. Receive a certificate of completion and appreciation packet as a prize. Learn more and see list of challenge sites.
San Diego River Park Foundation – The following river cleanup, field assessment, and water quality monitoring events are being offered throughout the month of March. Sign up for events as individuals or as a group.
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Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am to 12pm – River Assessment Field Teams (RAFT) – On Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the month, the RAFT will walk different segments of the San Diego River to identify issues affecting the river, such as trash, debris, and illegal dumping. Learn more or sign up.
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Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am to 12pm – River Rescue Cleanups – On Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the month, come out and assist the core volunteer group with river cleanups. Locations change weekly and will be emailed to you the Wednesday prior to the Saturday cleanup events, and on Friday prior to the Wednesday cleanup events. Learn more or sign up.
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Thursdays, 8am to 10am – Team E.C.O. (Education Center Operations) Cleanups – On select Thursdays throughout the month, help the E.C.O. care for the site of the future River Center at Grant Park by trimming vegetation, removing graffiti, and picking up trash. Learn more or sign up for the cleanups on March 2nd and March 9th.
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March 2, 7, 9, and 14, 9am to 12pm – IMPACT Teams – Join team IMPACT to help remove non-native invasive species from the lower San Diego watershed adjacent to the Fashion Valley Mall. Learn more or sign up for cleanup events on March 2nd, March 7th, March 9th, and March 14th.
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March 12 and 26, 9am to 11am – River Garden Club Cleanup – Help San Diego River Park Foundation staff or volunteers beautify the Point Loma Native Plant Garden and River Mouth at the river estuary. Cleanups take place every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Activities include watering, planting, pruning, weeding, path maintenance, and more! Learn more or sign up for the cleanups on March 12th, and March 26th.
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March 15, 8am to 12pm – Preserve Steward Day – Help Preserve Stewards care for the headwaters of the San Diego River by maintaining trails, removing invasive non-native plants, caring for native plants, installing irrigation, and more. Learn more or sign up.
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March 17 (East County) and 19 (West County), 8am to 12pm – RiverWatch East and West Team Monthly Water Quality Monitoring – Come join the RiverWatch East and West teams to learn how to monitor the water quality of the San Diego River. Learn more or sign up for the events on March 17th and March 19th.
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve Cleanup and Habitat Restoration Events – Help care for the resources of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve by establishing, restoring, and maintaining the native plant gardens and habitat, removing graffiti and litter, and helping to clean up the beaches.
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March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, 9am to 12pm – Friday Stewardship Sessions – Join stewardship volunteers on Fridays in March in caring for the resources of the Tijuana River. Learn more or sign up for the March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st
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March 17, 9am to 12pm – Park Champions Volunteer Events – Help restore native habitat in the Border Field State Park by removing invasive ice plant and non-native sea-lavender. Learn more or sign up.
San Diego Canyonlands Cleanup and Restoration Volunteer Events – Join San Diego Canyonlands and various communities in their local habitat restoration and cleanup efforts during the month of March. The work at each event varies but can include planting/caring for native plants, removing invasive plants, and removing trash and debris from restoration areas.
Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party Events – March 6, 13, 20, and 27, 9am to 12pm – Join the crew at the Nature Center on Monday mornings to do a little maintenance work around the native plant garden and trails. Learn more about the March 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th events.
Preserve Calavera Restoration Events – Join Preserve Calavera to help with their March restoration events to improve the conditions of local watersheds. Help remove invasive species and/or plant native plants and seeds.
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March 11, 9am to 10:30am – Rancho La Costa Preserve, Carlsbad. Learn more.
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March 18, 9am to 10:30am – El Corazon, Oceanside. Learn more.
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March 25, 9am to 10:30am – Rancho La Costa Preserve, Carlsbad. Learn more.
San Diego Audubon Habitat Restoration Events – The following work parties and restoration events will be offered during the month of March.
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March 7, 14, 21, and 28, 9:30am to 1:00pm – Dune Defenders Work Party – Help restore coastal dune habitat by removing invasive plants and conducting other land management activities at various California Least Tern preserves in Mission Bay. Learn more about the March 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th
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March 11, 9am to 11am – Rose Creek Native Plant Garden Work Party – Join the Friends of Rose Creek to work on The Nature School’s native plant interpretive garden behind Rose Creek Cottage in Pacific Beach. Help weed, water, remove trash and invasive plants, and plant native species. This is an easy one-to-two-hour project and great for children of all ages. Learn more.
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March 25, 9am to 11am – Wander the Wetlands and Restoration Work Party – Wander the Wetlands at Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve and help build Ridgway's rail nesting platforms, tackle invasive species, plant natives, rabbit-proof the restoration area, and more. Offered in partnership with UC San Diego Natural Reserve System and San Diego Audubon Society. Learn more.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation – March Restoration Event – Discovery Center Trail and Hubbs Trail – March 4, 9am to 12pm – Participate in the monthly restoration event at Discovery Center Trail to help with invasive species removal, native planting, and erosion control with fellow community members. Learn more or sign up.
WaterSmart Residential Landscape and Irrigation Events – The San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Program is providing the following free online and in-person 3-Hour Landscape Workshops during the month of March as well as past workshop recordings. These events are sponsored in part by Member Agencies and the County of San Diego.
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Online Workshops
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March 1, 5:30pm to 8:30pm – Plants: Inspiring Choices for Our Region – Learn about which plants to use in designing a low-water-use landscape and why some are more water-efficient than others. Learn more or register.
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March 8, 5:30pm to 8:30pm – Water & Irrigation: Utilizing a Precious Resource – Learn strategies to use our limited water sources wisely, including integrating stormwater capture elements into your landscape and conserving water through simple irrigation system retrofits. Learn more or register.
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March 15, 5:30pm to 8:30pm – Installation & Maintenance: Protecting Your Investment – Learn strategies for success in removing your turf and installing and maintaining your landscaping. Learn more or register.
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In-Person Workshops
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March 18, 9am to 12pm – Plan Ahead: Understanding Soil and Site Assessments – Learn about the steps needed to turn water-thirsty turf into a beautiful and sustainable landscape including how to rethink, redesign and renovate your landscape and the important role of healthy soil in a successful landscape. Learn more or register.
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March 25, 9am to 12pm – Design: Shape Your Space – Learn how to integrate your landscape into your personal lifestyle. Learn more or register.
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Past Recordings – View past workshops.
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Designer At Your Door Water Conservation and Landscape Makeover Service – Transform your yard into a beautiful water-saving landscape. Attend five 3-hour WaterSmart Landscape Workshops (above) and qualify to receive one-on-one support from industry professionals. Funded in part by the County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program. Learn more about homeowner eligibility and apply.
The Water Conservation Garden – The following garden events will be offered in March.
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March 15, 9:30am to 10:30am – Lil’ Sprouts Storytime with Ms. Smarty-Plants Winter 2023 – Join Ms. Smarty-Plants™ on the 3rd Wednesday of every month for a featured story followed by a nature craft. Storytime is free with Garden Admission. Registration will close on Monday, March 13th. Learn more or register.
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Wednesdays in March, 3pm or 4pm – Landscape Design On-Line Consultation –Winter 2023 – ($$ fees vary) – Receive helpful advice from professional landscape designers and architects on how to make changes to your landscape, incorporate water-wise plants and materials, qualify for a rebate, or obtain guidance for installing a new water efficient landscape. Offered in 45-minute timeslots beginning at 3pm or 4pm. Learn more or register.
Landscape and Water-Savings Webinars – A series of landscape and water-savings webinars are being offered throughout the month of March. Dates and times vary. Hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. See calendar and learn more or register.
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Drip Irrigation Fundamentals – Learn how to save your landscape by understanding soil moisture balance, key components of a properly installed drip system, typical problems with drip and how to avoid them, and developing a successful maintenance practice.
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California-Friendly Native Plant Webinar – Learn how to design a yard using the four principles of gorgeous and watershed-wise landscaping including building healthy soil, capturing rainfall, selecting native plants that minimize water use, and controlling irrigation.
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Rainwater Harvesting – Learn how to design your yard using watershed-wise landscaping including criteria and considerations when selecting rain capture methods such as swales, berms, cisterns, and integrating hardscapes.
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Turf: Remove, Replace, or Maintain Organically – Learn how to design your yard using principles of watershed-wise landscaping including removing your lawn without chemicals, building healthy soil, and selecting climate-appropriate and water-wise plants.
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Irrigation & Water Use Efficiency – Learn how to design a yard using the principles of watershed wise landscaping. Topics include overview of an irrigation system, programming a controller, why drip over spray, and easy ways to conserve water.
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Garden Design Workshop – Learn how to identify critical steps for successfully designing a watershed-wise landscape including developing a successful planting plan, developing a palette of climate-appropriate plants, and sizing and siting the rainwater capture area.
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Goodbye Grass: Qualify for a Turf Replacement Rebate – Learn about replacing your lawn with a watershed-wise landscape, including removing turf without the use of chemicals, replacing it with climate-appropriate plantings, and how to apply for a turf replacement rebate.
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Deciphering Your Irrigation Controller – Learn about your irrigation controller including understanding irrigation’s role in maintaining a soil moisture balance, outlining the purpose of a weather-based controller, reviewing basic terminology and programming principles, identifying special functions like cycle & soak, and troubleshooting typical problems.
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Events – The following events are being offered in March and highlight the environmental benefits of native plants including water conservation and reduction in fertilizer and pesticide use.
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March 2, 1pm to 2pm – Ways that We Impact Watersheds in Our Garden Decisions Online Workshop – Learn how to garden with less water, manage too much stormwater, and generally provide a healthier habitat for birds, pollinating insects, and Learn more.
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March 2, 5:30pm to 6:30pm – Naturehood Monthly Gardening Webinars – Growing Good Food – Learn how to landscape for and maintain an edible native garden. Learn more and register.
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March 13, 7pm to 8:30pm – Arranging California Native Plants in Bouquets, Garlands, and Wreaths Online Event – Learn about arranging California native plants in bouquets, garlands, and wreaths. Learn more or register.
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Wildlife & Water Friendly Gardens – Free Series 2023 – The following online events are being offered to learn how to modify your gardening practices to benefit and attract wildlife, all while protecting the health of our watersheds. Learn more or reserve a spot.
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March 2, 1pm to 2pm – Ways that We Impact Watersheds in Our Garden Decisions – Learn how to garden with less water, manage too much stormwater, and generally provide a healthier habitat for birds, pollinating insects, and
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March 9, 1pm to 2pm – Garden Design Considerations for Managing Stormwater & Erosion – Learn how to prevent run-off from your property using earth-friendly, waterwise designs that provide wildlife habitat.
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April 1 and 2, 9am to 4pm – CNPS San Diego Native Garden Tour ($35 for 2-day ticket) – The San Diego chapter of the California Native Plant Society is hosting their 9th annual Garden Tour, featuring beautiful native gardens located in the San Marcos/Escondido (April 1st) and Encinitas (April 2nd) areas. This year’s gardens feature a native-landscaped HOA park, an elementary school–created habitat trail, and a Mediterranean botanical garden. Tickets are $35 and are on sale through March 27th. Learn more or register.
Alta Vista Botanical Garden – March 11, 10am to 12pm – Kids in the Garden Classes – Soil, Composting, and Spring Planting ($5 fee, includes entry to the Garden) – Learn about different kinds of soil and how you can make soil by composting. Learn more or pre-register with Farmer Jones at farmerjonesavbg@gmail.com.
I Love a Clean San Diego (ILACSD) Waste Reduction Events – The following waste reduction events are being offered in March.
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March 2, 9am to 11am – Descanso Clothing SWAP – Join ILACSD for their March 2nd food distribution event in collaboration with the San Diego County Library Branches and Feeding San Diego Mobile Truck deliveries for a clothing SWAP to support families with free clothing and eliminate clothing waste that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill. Trade your clothing items for other goods at no cost. By participating in the swap, you are helping to conserve natural resources, reducing the environmental footprint of producing new goods, and building community. Sponsored by the County of San Diego. Learn more.
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March 9, 5pm to 6pm – Step Up Your Sustainability Webinar – Learn new zero waste tips to implement in your daily life, including eco-friendly product swaps, DIY recipes, how to compost without an outdoor space, how to repurpose old items with new uses, and more. Offered in partnership with the City of Encinitas. Learn more or register.
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March 22, 5pm to 6pm – Say No To Single Use Plastic Webinar – Learn about many zero waste product swaps to eliminate single-use plastic items from all areas of your daily routine. Topics include why it’s so important for our health and the health of the environment to reduce plastic usage, what happens to plastic after we use it and throw it away, and how to properly recycle or dispose of the plastic waste you do create. Sponsored by the City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department. Learn more or register.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Waste Reduction Events – The following residential and business online and in-person events are being offered in March.
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March 11, 10am to 12pm – Backyard Composting and Bokashi Basics Workshop – Pine Valley – Learn the basics of traditional composting and get an introduction to bokashi, a fermentation method that will enable you to compost all your food waste, including meat, dairy, and liquids, allowing fresh materials to be preserved and composted at your leisure. Funded by the County of San Diego Recycling. Site sponsor San Diego County library. Learn more or register.
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March 11 through April 15, 10am to 1pm – Master Composter In-Person Course ($25 fee) – Ramona – This five-week Master Composter course provides training in the art and science of composting covering topics on traditional composting, vermicomposting and Bokashi, compost bin building and troubleshooting, environmental impacts, and more. Course includes lectures, demonstrations, and a field trip. Eligible for Master Composter certification upon meeting certain requirements. Funded by the City of San Diego Environmental Services. Site location Surprise Farm Retreat Center. Learn more or register.
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March 15 – Free E-Business Waste Pickup – A free e-waste pick-up service is being offered to businesses in San Diego County. Register by the second Friday (March 10) of the month for the following Wednesday pickup. Urban Corps will contact you to confirm pick-up. Offered in partnership with Urban Corps. Learn more or sign up.
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March 21, 6pm to 7:30pm – Composting with Aerated Static Piles Webinar – County of San Diego – This webinar will address mid-scale composting using Aerated Static Piles (ASPs) for farms and ranches with moderate quantities of on-farm organic materials including manure, crop residues, and food scraps. Improper disposal of organic waste can lead to pest issues, create health issues for livestock, and contaminate local water sources. Learn more or register.
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March 25, 10am to 11am – Green Living Tour – Encinitas – Learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle with some easy steps to address issues around water, waste, and soil health. You’ll see sustainability in action as you explore worm bins, grey water systems, innovative compost projects, a water-wise garden, a tool lending library, and more. Tour is free with a suggested donation of $10. Learn more or reserve a spot.
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March 25, 11am to 1pm – Backyard Composting Basics Webinar – Alpine – Learn the basics of traditional backyard composting including importance and benefits of composting, composting bin options, tools and materials, and how to build a compost pile. Funded by the County of San Diego Recycling. Site sponsor San Diego County library. Learn more or register.
The Living Coastal Discovery Center – The following events are being offered in March:
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On-Site and Virtual Compost Workshops – Learn the basics on how to start your own compost pile and turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil. Learn more or register. Pre-recorded video compost workshops also available. Sponsored by the City of Chula Vista.
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Every Sunday in March, 2pm to 3pm – On-site workshop free with admission.
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March 5, 2pm to 3pm – Virtual workshop. Chula Vista residents can purchase a Soil Saver compost bin for $35 after attending one of the City’s composting workshops or the Master Composter Course.
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March 13 through April 23 every Monday, 6pm to 8:30pm –Master Composter Program – Spring 2023 – This free seven-week course provides training in the art and science of composting and includes topics such as traditional composting, how to build a compost pile, vermicomposting, soil health, and much more. Course includes lectures and online demonstrations. Learn more and email Katharine@thelivingcoast.org to be considered.
SD Environmental Services One-Day Collection Events – City of San Diego – March 25, 9am to 1pm. A one-day household hazardous waste (HHW) collection events will be held at the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department parking lot. Learn more.
Escondido Creek Conservancy Welcome to the Watershed Hike-Bottle Peak – March 4, 9am to 12pm – Join Conservancy staff, board members, and volunteers and learn about current Conservancy projects while hiking the iconic Bottle Peak! This hike is part of the Welcome to the Watershed Hike series that will rotate around Conservancy preserves around the Escondido Creek watershed. Learn more or reserve a spot.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Tip Top 5K/10K Fun Run & Walk and World Water Day Celebration ($ fee varies) – March 18, 8:30am to 12pm – Participate in a family-friendly fun walk/run to celebrate the eradication of the Caulerpa taxifolia (invasive algae harmful to Pacific Ocean) followed by a party at the finish line in observation of the upcoming World Water Day. Finish line event features music, exhibits, presentations, and more. Learn more or register.
Sweetwater Water Authority – Water in Daily Life 2023 High School Photo Contest – photo entries due March 17, by 5pm – This year’s photo contest challenges students to creatively showcase and celebrate through photography the many ways we interact with water in our daily lives. Contest is open to students who live in or attend school in Sweetwater Authority's service area. Deadline to submit photos is March 17, 5pm. Learn more.
Olivenhain Municipal Water District Annual Poster Contest – poster entries due April 3 – OMWD is inviting all fourth-grade students living or attending school in their service area to design a poster emphasizing the need to make water use efficiency a lifestyle. Students who enter will be eligible to win prizes and have their posters featured in a 2024 calendar and on OMWD vehicles. Learn more or register.
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