Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
September 2023
We all play a part in preventing stormwater pollution. Here are some ways to get involved in September and help protect our local waterways! All events are free unless otherwise indicated.
Ongoing beach and community cleanups help protect the County’s waterways from stormwater pollution and can preserve water quality for years to come. The County thanks the following beach and community cleanup event partners for their ongoing support in preventing stormwater pollution: I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD), Surfrider Foundation San Diego, San Diego Coastkeeper, San Diego River Park Foundation, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR), San Diego Canyonlands, Buena Vista Audubon (BVA), San Diego Audubon, Preserve Calavera, Think Blue San Diego, Green Oceanside, Friends of Navajo Canyon, ASCENDtials.org, Recycle for Veterans, Ecological Servants Project, City of Carlsbad, City of La Mesa, City of San Diego Environmental Services, Casa De Oro Community Alliance, Council District 7, and San Diego Gas & Electric.
September 1
September 2
September 4
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9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
September 7
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8am to 10am – San Diego River Park Foundation Team E.C.O. (Education Center Operations) Cleanup and Restoration. Learn more or sign up.
September 8
September 9
September 10
September 11
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9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
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3:15pm to 4:15pm – TRNERR Tijuana Estuary Explorers Virtual Teacher Training, 3rd through 6th Grades. Sign up by September 7th. Learn more or sign up.
September 12
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3:15pm to 4:15pm – TRNERR Tijuana Estuary Explorers Virtual Teacher Training, 3rd through 6th Grades. Sign up by September 7th. Learn more or sign up.
September 14
September 15
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9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Sessions. Learn more or sign up.
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4pm to 5pm – TRNERR Tijuana Estuary Explorers In-Person Teacher Training, 3rd through 6th Grades. Sign up by September 7th. Learn more or sign up.
September 16
September 18
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9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
September 20
September 22
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9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Sessions. Learn more or sign up.
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9:15am to 11:30 – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Highway Cleanup, Highway 125 at Quarry/Elketon. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 9/22 date on the calendar.
September 23
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8:30am to 10am – Preserve Calavera Restoration Event, Rancho La Costa. Learn more.
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9am to 12pm – ILACSD 39th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Learn more or register.
- Partnering organization events:
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9am to 12pm – San Diego River Park Foundation Clean & Green Mission Valley. Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 12pm – San Diego River Park Foundation Clean & Green East County. Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 12pm – Agua Hedionda Foundation Bayshore Trail Restoration. Learn more.
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10am to 12pm – Surfrider Foundation San Diego Pacific Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
September 24
September 25
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9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
September 28
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8am to 10am – San Diego River Park Foundation Team E.C.O. (Education Center Operations) Cleanup and Restoration. Learn more or sign up.
September 29
September 30
Monthly/Ongoing or On Your Own Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
WaterSmart Residential Landscape and Irrigation Events – The San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Program is providing the following online workshops and consultation services during the month of September.
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September 23, 9am to 11am – 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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September 30, 9am to 11am – Design: Shape Your Space – Learn how to integrate your landscape into your personal lifestyle. Learn more or register.
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Designer At Your Door Water Conservation Service – This service provides an opportunity for one-on-one support from industry professionals that complements special topic WaterSmart landscape classes. Homeowners must meet certain criteria to qualify for this service. Learn more about homeowner eligibility by clicking on the Design Program tab and apply.
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Past Recordings of 3-Hour Landscape Workshops – View past workshops
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) – The following events will be offered in September.
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September 7, 5:30pm to 6:30pm – Naturehood Monthly Gardening Webinars – Native Gardening Chats: Seeding Connections – Learn how some people are making a difference in the world through native plants through friendly panel discussions. Learn more or register.
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September 11, 7pm to 8:30pm – Reliable California Native Plants for a Garden with No Irrigation Webinar – This is a continuation of last year’s webinar presented by founder and member of CNPS Santa Clara Chapter. View part one recording. Learn more or register.
The Water Conservation Garden – The following garden event and consultation services will be offered in September. https://www.thegarden.org/seasonal-workshops/
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September 8, 10am to 12pm – Ms. Smarty-Plants™ Welcomes Luna – Join Ms. Smarty-Plants™ and the Garden for a meet-and-greet from Luna from PBS Kids. Includes a special story time, book giveaway, and special activities. Garden admission is free on the 2nd Friday of the month. Learn more or register.
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September 16, 10am to 11:30am – How to Hire a Landscape Designer – Learn a common-sense approach to hiring a landscape professional including which questions to ask, how to properly plan, and receive money-saving tips. Sponsored by the County of San Diego. Learn more or register.
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September 20, 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, September 18th. Learn more or register.
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September Landscape Design On-Line Consultation Sessions – appointment times and 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. Learn more or register.
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September 30, 5pm to 8:30pm – Perennial Party Annual Fundraiser ($$ fees vary) – This main fundraising event of the year for the Garden supports core programs in environmental education, water conservation, and horticulture. Learn more or buy tickets.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Water Wise Gardening Webinar – Fallbrook – September 9, 10am to 12pm – Learn how to create a less thirsty and more environmentally-friendly landscape including climate-appropriate planting, using mulch and compost to conserve water, managing irrigation efficiently, and soil types and gardening styles. Unincorporated residents can receive a free food scraps caddy, courtesy of the County of San Diego. Funded by the County of San Diego Recycling in partnership with the County of San Diego. Site provider Fallbrook Library. Learn more or register.
City of Chula Vista – NatureScape Workshop, Information Booth and Plant Sale – September 9, 10am to 3pm – Hear presentations by experts covering water-conserving landscapes, building healthy soil with compost, planting right for your site, and using water smart irrigation. Learn more or register.
University of California Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program – Pesticide Safety Instructor Training Zoom Workshops (fee $400) – September 20, 8am to 5pm (SPANISH ONLY) – Participants who complete this training will become qualified to provide pesticide safety training to fieldworkers and pesticide handlers as required by California state regulations. This training is approved by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Learn more or register.
Programa de Manejo Integrado de Plagas (IPM) de la Universidad de California – Talleres Zoom de capacitación para instructores de seguridad de pesticidas (tarifa de $400) – 20 de septiembre, de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m. (ESPAÑOL) – Los participantes que completen esta capacitación estarán calificados para capacitación sobre seguridad de pesticidas a trabajadores de campo y manipuladores de pesticidas. según lo exigen las regulaciones del estado de California. Esta capacitación está aprobada por el Departamento de Regulación de Pesticidas de California (DPR). Obtenga más información o regístrese.
Landscape and Water-Savings Webinars – A series of landscape and water-savings webinars are being offered throughout the month of September. Dates and times vary. Hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. See calendar and learn more or register.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
San Diego Botanic Garden – The following events are being offered in September.
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Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in September, 10am to 12pm – Monthly SAPLinGS Sessions – Children are invited to join for Science, Art, and Play in Garden Spaces (SAPLinGS) activities. Each month the focus will be on a different plant or nature-based theme. Science activities engage kids with cool science and hands-on learning that stimulates curiosity. Art activities focus on projects that spark the imagination. Scroll to September calendar for specific SAPLinGS dates of interest and to learn more.
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September 21, 10am to 2pm – Succulent Turtle Topiary Workshop ($$ fees vary and include Garden admission) – Participants will create their own turtle topiary decoration with a variety of high-quality materials. Registration closes on September 14th. Learn more or register.
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September 22, 2pm to 3pm – Monthly Summer Science Series – Join the Garden each month as plant science and conservation efforts are presented by San Diego Botanic Garden’s staff, colleagues, and guest speakers. Speakers are to be determined. Registration closes on September 21st. Learn more or register.
 Outdoor Composting
The Living Coastal Discovery Center – The following events are being offered in September:
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September 6 through October 17, Tuesdays, 6pm to 8:30pm – Master Composter Program Fall 2023 – A free seven-week Master Composter course is being offered to provide training in the art and science of composting. Topics include traditional composting and vermicomposting (composting with worms) and environmental impacts, how to build a compost pile demonstration, bugs in your compost pile, soil health, and more. Learn more and sign up to become a Master Composter.
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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 by attending the following on-site and virtual events. Sponsored by the City of Chula Vista. Learn more or register.
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Every Sunday in September, 2pm to 3pm – On-site workshop free with admission.
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Pre-recoded workshops – View video compost workshops.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Waste Reduction Events – The following residential and business events are being offered in September.
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Free E-Business Waste Pickup – September 20 – A free monthly e-waste pick-up service is being offered to businesses in San Diego County. Register by Friday September 15th for the Wednesday September 20th Urban Corps will contact you to confirm pick-up. Offered in partnership with Urban Corps. Learn more or sign up.
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September 23, 10:300am to 12pm – Miramar Greenery to You: Compost, Mulch and Wood Chips – Learn about the City of San Diego-operated Miramar Greenery composting facility, the compost process, and environmental benefits. Also includes information on how compost can help you save money, time, and resources, and how you can easily get compost, mulch, and wood chips for your garden, landscape, or farm. If you’re a City of San Diego resident, you can pick up 2 cubic yards of compost and 4″ mulch from the Greenery for free with proof of residency! Learn more or register.
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September 27, 6pm to 7pm – Small-Scale Manure Composting Webinar – Learn how to protect your local watershed and produce a fantastic soil amendment by composting herbivore manure. Topics include the benefits of composting, importance of proper manure management, composting basics, and how to get started at home. Funded by the County of San Diego. Learn more or register.
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September 30, 10am to 11am – Green Living Tour ($5 fee) – 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. Learn more.
City of Lemon Grove – Free Drop-Off and Recycling –– September 23, by appointment – The City of Lemon Grove is offering a free recycling drop-off event for household hazardous waste (HHW) including batteries, bulbs, electronics, paints, chemicals, medical sharps, and more. Learn more.
California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) 2023 Conference – Rain Ready California: Protecting and Collecting Water for Our Future – September 11-13 – San Diego, 8am to 5pm ($$ fees vary) – This year’s conference will offer in-depth learning opportunities and discussions on a wide range of stormwater and water management topics with a focus on the creation of a Rain Ready California for a more resilient future. Topics will include stormwater capture, source control and effective BMPs, rethinking integration across water sectors to achieve shared common goals, and more. Registration closes September 5th at 5pm. Conference host County of San Diego. Learn more or register.
Center for Watershed Protection – 2023 Webcast Series: Webcast 7 – Stormwater Standards in the U.S. ($159 fee) – September 20, 10am to 11:30am – This webcast focuses on the evolution of stormwater permits and progress of alternative compliance pathways in achieving water quality goals. The history, benefits and challenges of runoff reduction will also be discussed along with how it’s been applied in various communities. Note time on website posted as Eastern Time. Scroll to webcast 7 to learn more or register.
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