Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
APRIL 2024
We all play a part in preventing stormwater pollution. Here are some ways to get involved in April 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 Rose Creek, ASCENDtials.org, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, South Bay Sustainable Communities Network, Keep America Beautiful, Clean California, Casa de Oro Community Alliance, Nature Collective, Living Coast Discovery Center, City of Carlsbad, City of Chula Vista, City of San Diego, and City of La Mesa.
April 1
-
9am to 12pm – TRNERR Monday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Session. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
April 3
April 4
April 5
April 6
-
8am to 12pm – Park Beautification Saturdays at Louis A. Stelzer Park, Lakeside. Learn more.
-
9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation San Diego Ocean Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 12pm – ILACSD Clean California Community Transformation Event at Azalea Park. Learn more or register.
-
9:15am to 11:30am – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Beach Cleanup and Kemetic Yoga, Torrey Pines Black’s Beach. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 4/6 date on the calendar.
April 7
-
12:15pm to 1:30pm – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Highway Cleanup, 5 South at Mission Bay Beach Club. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 4/7 date on the calendar.
April 8
-
9am to 12pm – TRNERR Monday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Session. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
April 9
April 11
April 12
-
9am to 12pm – San Diego Canyonlands Mission Hills Canyon Maintenance/Sips & Sagebrush. Learn more or sign up.
April 13
-
8am to 10:30am – San Diego Canyonlands Swan Canyon Habitat Restoration. Learn more or sign up.
-
8am to 12pm – Park Beautification Saturdays at Louis A. Stelzer Park, Lakeside. Learn more.
-
9am to 10:30am – Preserve Calavera Rancho La Costa Restoration. Learn more or RSVP.
-
9am to 11am – ILACSD Watershed Warriors: Casa de Oro Community Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Audubon Friends of Rose Creek Native Plant Garden Work Party. Learn more or register.
-
10:15am to 11:30am – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Beach Cleanup, Silver Strand Beach. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 4/13 date on the calendar.
April 14
-
9am to 11am – San Diego River Park Foundation Garden Club. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Canyonlands Navajo Canyon Habitat Restoration - City Park Ranger Event. Learn more.
April 15
-
9am to 12pm – TRNERR Monday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Session. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
April 17
April 18
April 20
-
8am to 10:30am – San Diego Canyonlands Olivia Canyon Habitat Restoration. Learn more or sign up.
-
8am to 12pm – Park Beautification Saturdays at Louis A. Stelzer Park, Lakeside. Learn more.
-
8:30am to 12:30pm – San Diego River Park Foundation RiverWatch East County. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 10:30am – Preserve Calavera El Corazon Restoration. Learn more or RSVP.
-
9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation San Diego Moonlight State Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Coastkeeper Creek to Bay Cleanup Day Event – Otay Valley Regional Park. Learn more.
-
9am to 11am – Living Coast Discovery Center – Team Up to Clean Up Pepper Park. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 11:30am – San Diego Canyonlands Friends of Tierrasanta Canyons Habitat Restoration. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – ILACSD 22nd Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup Day. Registration opens April 1st. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 12pm – San Diego River Park Foundation Clean & Green: Creek to Bay. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve Restoration. Learn more or reserve your spot.
-
9am to 12pm – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Trail Cleanup Event – Hubbs Trail/Garfield Street Trailhead. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – Preserve Calavera El Salto Falls. Learn more or RSVP.
-
-
9:15am to 10:30am – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Highway Cleanup, Highway 75 at Coronado Island. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 4/20 date on the calendar.
-
10am to 12pm – Surfrider Foundation San Diego Imperial Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
April 21
April 22
-
9am to 11am – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Trail Cleanup Event – Hubbs Trail/Garfield Street Trailhead. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – TRNERR Monday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Session. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
April 23
April 25
April 26
-
9am to 12pm – San Diego Canyonlands Mission Hills Canyon Maintenance/Sips & Sagebrush. Learn more or sign up.
April 27
-
8am to 12pm – Park Beautification Saturdays at Louis A. Stelzer Park, Lakeside. Learn more.
-
9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation Tamarack State Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Audubon Wander the Wetlands Work Party. Learn more or RSVP.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Canyonlands Navajo Canyon Habitat Restoration - City Park Ranger Event. Learn more.
-
9:15am to 11:30 – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Highway Cleanup, Highway 125 at Quarry/Elketon. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 4/27 date on the calendar.
-
10am to 12pm – Surfrider Foundation Pacific Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Algerian Sea Lavender Removal. Learn more or sign up.
April 28
April 29
-
9am to 12pm – TRNERR Monday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Session. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
Monthly/Ongoing or On Your Own Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
-
Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am to 12pm – San Diego River Park Foundation River Assessment Field Teams (RAFT). Learn more or sign up.
-
Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am to 12pm – San Dieguito River Park Foundation Dust Devils Trail Maintenance and Habitat Restoration Events. Locations vary. See April event calendar to learn more.
-
Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am to 12pm – San Diego River Park Foundation River Rescue Cleanups. Learn more or sign up.
-
Saturdays – San Diego Canyonlands Cleanup and Restoration Events. Times and locations vary. See April event calendar to learn more.
-
San Diego Surfrider Foundation Ongoing Solo Cleanups. Learn more.
-
Coastkeeper San Diego Six Cleanup Challenge, Flexible Dates/Times. Learn more and see list of challenge sites.
-
ILACSD Adopt A Beach, Adopt A Canyon Program, Flexible Dates/Flexible Times – Volunteer to help keep San Diego County maintained, safe, and beautiful. Run an independent beach/canyon cleanup at your chosen ‘adopted’ location at a date and time that works for you. Requirements include a minimum of three cleanups at your chosen site in one year and the reporting of detailed cleanup data to ILACSD. Learn more and adopt a location.
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Events – The following events are being offered in April.
-
April 4, 5:30pm to 6:30pm – Naturehood Monthly Gardening Webinars – Introducing the New Calscape – Learn about the exciting new features and improvements to the new Calscape.org tool including descriptions of more than 8,500 California native plants, a free garden planner, expanded search criteria, and a new directory of native plant landscaping professionals. Learn more and sign
-
April 6 and 7, 9am to 4pm – CNPS San Diego Native Garden Tour ($40 for 2-day ticket) – The San Diego chapter of the California Native Plant Society is hosting their 10th annual Garden Tour, featuring beautiful native gardens located in the Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Miramar Ranch North, and Scripps Ranch (April 6th) and La Jolla, North Clairemont, University City, Del Mar, and Solana Beach (April 7th) areas. This year’s theme is 'Planting Animals,' highlighting the ties between native plants and the animals that rely on them. Tickets are $40 and are on sale through April 7th. Learn more or register.
San Diego Audubon – Outreach Event: Kensington Earth Day – April 13, 11am to 2pm – Join Trees KenTal (Kensington/Talmadge neighborhood in San Diego) for their 3rd annual Earth Day Celebration. The days’ activities include learning best practices for planting and tree care, identifying and supporting our backyard birds, kids’ activities, free ice cream, as well as drawings for FREE TREES and other giveaways brought by exhibitors. Site location: Kensington-Normal Heights Library Park, 4121 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116. Key sponsors include Trees KenTal, Adams Avenue Business Association, and KenTal Community Association. Learn more.
UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program Urban and Community Webinar Series – Mosquitos and Ticks of Public Health Concern – April 18, 12pm – In this webinar you’ll learn about the health risks these pests pose, how you can manage them and protect yourself, and how Mosquito & Vector Control Districts in California are preparing for new threats like invasive mosquitoes. Learn more or register.
Earth Day Festival at the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens – April 20, 10am to 3pm – Join in on this free event for the community to celebrate the Earth with fun and informative activities for the whole family. Events include a variety of children’s activities, music throughout the day, plant sales and advice, garden shops, vendors, and more. Learn more.
Buena Vista Audubon 20th Annual California Native Plant Garden Tour - Oceanside – April 21, 2pm – Come see over 18 Native Plant Gardens in the Historic Seaside Neighborhood of Downtown Oceanside. Plant experts and neighborhood locals will lead a 1.5-mile walking tour around downtown Oceanside to see wonderful front yard gardens. Meet at St. Mary’s School parking lot at 515 Wisconsin Ave, Oceanside, CA 92054 at 2pm. The guided walk is free. Learn more.
Landscape and Water-Savings Webinars – A series of landscape and water-savings webinars are being offered throughout the month of April. Dates and times vary. Hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. See calendar and learn more or register.
-
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.
-
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.
-
California-Friendly Native Plant Landscape – 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
WaterSmart Residential Landscape and Irrigation Events – The San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Program is providing the following services in April.
San Diego Botanic Garden – Monthly SAPLinGS Sessions – Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 10am to 12pm – Children are invited to join in for Science, Art, and Play in Garden Spaces (SAPLinGS) activities. Topics vary and will focus on a different plant or nature-based theme with April’s theme being Celebrate the Earth. Science activities engage kids with cool science and hands-on learning that stimulates curiosity. Art activities focus on projects that spark the imagination. Learn more.
UCCE Master Gardener Association of San Diego – April 1-30, 10am to 4pm – Master Gardener (MG) Demonstration Gardens at Carlsbad Flower Fields – Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions including garden planning, watering, pest control, and anything garden related. Learn more by clicking any of the daily calendar links.
Unincorporated San Diego Residential Cleanup Events – April 6, 8am to 12pm – Attend this cleanup event for where residents of unincorporated San Diego can dispose of unwanted items such as broken appliances, water heaters, furniture, electronics, and other miscellaneous household bulky items that are too large or too heavy to place in trash carts. Other activities include free paper shredding, free mulch, and Goodwill will be onsite to accept donated reusable items. Event location: Mount Miguel High School, 8585 Blossom Lane, Spring Valley, CA 91977. Learn more.
City of Carlsbad Earth Month Celebration – The City of Carlsbad will be offering the following Earth Month Celebration Events in April.
-
April 6, 9am to 12pm – Small Steps, Big Impact: Celebrate Sustainability this April! – Learn how to reduce waste while enjoying family-friendly activities, workshops, and live music. Activities include a clothing swap, compost and mulch give-away, and more. Site location: Pine Avenue Community Park and Carlsbad Senior Center. Learn more.
-
April 13, 10am to 1pm – San Diego Fixit Clinic and Electronic Waste Collection Event – At the Fix-It Clinic you’ll learn how to reduce waste by fixing things instead of throwing items away. Bring broken or non-working items for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair. Workspace, specialty tools, and guidance to help you take apart and troubleshoot your item will be provided. Learn more or register for Fix-It Clinic. Republic Services will also be hosting an Electronic Waste Collection Event during the Fix-It Clinic. Event hosted by Zero Waste San Diego and Republic Services. Site location: City of Carlsbad – Dove Library.
-
April 20, 9am to 12pm – As part of the I Love A Clean San Diego and 22nd Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup, help the City of Carlsbad remove 30,000 pounds of litter in a single day. Get outside, stay close to your home and collect trash in your neighborhood. Registration opens April 1. Learn more or register for a hosted location.
-
April 27, 9am to 1pm – Shred and Recycle It! Event – Carlsbad residents can bring up to five standard-size boxes of sensitive documents to shred and recycle in an environmentally responsible way for free. Offered in partnership with Republic Services. Learn more or register at the Republic Services website beginning March 25th.
-
April 27, 9am to 1pm – Donate, Don’t Waste Collection Event, La Costa Canyon High School – Give your used items a second chance instead of sending them to the landfill. Donate them! Items accepted include small appliances like toasters or blenders, housewares and home décor, small furniture items, sporting goods, electronics, and gently used clothing, shoes and accessories. No registration is required. Learn more.
The Living Coast Discovery Center Compost Workshops – The following events will be offered in April.
-
April 7th, 14th and 21st, 11:30am to 12:30pm – Sunday Compost Workshops – Learn the basics on how to start your own compost pile and turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil by attending these on-site workshops, free with admission. Pre-recorded video workshops are also available. Sponsored by the City of Chula Vista. Learn more or sign up for the April 7th, 14th, and 21st
-
7 de abril, de 11:30am a 12:30pm – Bilingual Workshop – Aprenda los conceptos básicos sobre cómo comenzar su propia pila de compostaje y convertir los desechos de alimentos en tierra rica en nutrients. Asista a estos talleres in situ, gratis con la entrada. También se encuentran disponibles talleres de video pregrabados. Patrocinado por la Ciudad de Chula Vista. Obtenga más información o regístrese.
-
April 28, 11:30am to 12:30pm – Vermicomposting Workshop – Learn how to build and care for your own worm bin. Learn more or register.
San Dieguito Park Spring Festival – April 13, 10am to 1pm – Attend this zero-waste family-friendly event. Activities include eco-friendly arts, crafts, and activities, nature education, live animals, kids’ activities, local vendors, and more. Sponsored by County of San Diego Parks & Recreation and Nature Collective. Learn more.
City of Chula Vista – South Bay Earth Day at Bayfront Park – April 13, 11am to 3pm – Learn how to reduce your impact on the environment at this zero-waste event that will be packed with hands-on green activities! You will find environmentally-friendly lifestyle ideas at exhibits ranging from green energy conservation to how to properly compost food waste. Bring any item you have that needs fixing—electronics, sewing, mechanical or otherwise–to the San Diego Fix-it-Clinic. Experts will help you diagnose and fix the problem. Organized by the City of Chula Vista in partnership with the Port of San Diego Experiences. Learn more or register for Fix-It Clinic.
SD Environmental Services One-Day Collection Events – City of San Diego – April 13, 9am to 1pm – A one-day household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event will be held at the Vista Del Mar Middle School, 4885 Del Sol Blvd. San Diego, CA 92154. Learn more.
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) Waste Reduction Events – The following waste reduction events are being offered in April.
-
April 16, 5pm to 7pm – Slow Down Swap Party at Hourglass Field House – Join ILACSD in making fashion circular, by trading your clothes, accessories, and shoes at their swap party at Hourglass Field House. Donate by bringing gently-used items with you. Learn more.
-
April 17, 5pm to 6pm – Spring Cleaning Webinar – This webinar will focus on zero waste practices for cleaning all areas of the home, sustainable product swaps for cleaning supplies, and where to donate used items locally. Learn more or register.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Waste Reduction Events – The following residential and business events are being offered in April.
-
April 16, 5pm to 7pm – All About Worms Workshop – Rancho Bernardo – Learn about the benefits of vermicomposting (composting with worms) and turning food waste into nutrient-rich castings for your garden. Topics include appropriate tools and materials, steps to start a vermicompost bin, how to feed your worms and which foods are suitable, troubleshooting and maintaining your worm bin, and harvesting and using finished castings. Funded by the City of San Diego Environmental Services. Offered in partnership with the City of San Diego Public Library. Site location: Rancho Bernardo Library,17110 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego, CA 92128. Learn more or register.
-
April 17 – Free E-Business Waste Pickup – A free monthly e-waste pick-up service is being offered to businesses in San Diego County. Register by Friday, April 12th for the Wednesday, April 17th Urban Corps will contact you to confirm pick-up. Offered in partnership with Urban Corps. Learn more or sign up.
-
April 27, 10am to 12pm (Spanish workshop 1pm to 2pm) – Backyard Composting Basics Workshop – Spring Valley – Learn the basics of traditional backyard composting including the 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. Site host: San Diego County Library, Spring Valley Branch Library, 836 Kempton St, Spring Valley, CA 91977. Learn more or register for the English or Spanish
-
April 27, 10am to 12pm – Water Wise Gardening Workshop – Pine Valley – Learn what you need to know to get started with a garden that fits San Diego’s semi-arid climate including climate-appropriate planting, using mulch and compost to build healthy soil that conserves water, soil types and gardening styles, and managing irrigation efficiently. Priority registration is reserved for residents of unincorporated San Diego County. All others will be placed on a waitlist. Funded by the County of San Diego. Site host: San Diego County Library, Pine Valley Branch Library, 28804 Old Hwy 80, Pine Valley, CA 91962. Learn more or register.
Stay Classy O’side Earth Day Community Event at Libby Lake Park – April 20, 9am to 12pm – Attend this family-friendly environmentally-focused community event. Activities include educational booths, activities for kids, music, games and more. Hosted by Green Oceanside. Check out other Earth Month activities and resources here. Learn more.
City of La Mesa – Earth Day Fair at MacArthur Park – April 20, 11am to 3pm – Attend for a day of fun, education, and excitement at La Mesa’s free family-friendly Earth Day Fair. Vendors and exhibitors will provide eco-friendly resources, educational materials, art, and sustainable products and services in celebration of Earth and Arbor Day. Bring any item you have that needs fixing—electronics, sewing, mechanical or otherwise–to the San Diego Fix-it Clinic. Experts will help you diagnose and fix the problem. Organized by the City of La Mesa in partnership with the La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation. Learn more or register for Fix-It Clinic.
South Bay Sustainable Communities Network Monthly Compost Pile Turnings – various days, timeslots and cities – Join South Bay Sustainable Communities Network for monthly turnings of their soil saver compost bins at select compost hub locations throughout South San Diego County. Compost hubs are also available to community members to drop off food scraps. Scroll to bottom of home page to check calendar for hub locations and dates.
Green Oceanside – Love Water, Save Water: Water Awareness Calendar Contest – calendar entries due April 1st – Fourth grade students and teachers are invited to participate in the City of Oceanside’s 2024 Water Awareness Calendar Contest, an annual competition for fourth grade students in each of the North County water agencies’ service areas. Students are encouraged to illustrate ways they love water, how they save water at home, or ways they might save or recycle water in the future. Three winning students will have their artwork printed in the 2025 North County Water Agency Calendar. The deadline to submit 2024 contest entries is April 1st, 2024. Learn more.
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) – Kids’ Ocean Day 2024 – Event Support Interest Zoom Orientation – April 4, 3pm to 4pm – Come learn about Kids’ Ocean Day and sign up to volunteer to support a field trip for nearly 1,000 students at Mission Beach. You will be trained on how to act as honorary ILACSD staff on the day (May 17th) to help make this event a success! Learn more or register.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation – The following events are being offered in April and the summer.
-
April 3, 5:30pm to 7pm – Adult Lecture Series: Talk with Trees – ($10 fee includes beverage and presentation) – Celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Month and hear from local naturalist Anne Spindel about the important factors about nature that are living and growing around us. Learn more.
-
Daily program Monday through Friday, 9am to 1pm – Preschool Playdates Program ($$ fees vary) – All children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join the daily program for nature-themed lessons and activities. Each day will include environmental education and literacy, a craft made from recycled materials, outdoor play and more. You can choose to register for the entire week, four days, three days, two days or one day a week. Topics vary by month with the April topic being ‘Planet Protectors.’ Learn more or register.
San Diego Coastkeeper Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program – April 27, 9am to 12pm – Be part of a team of passionate individuals interested in protecting and restoring our waters and wilds. Join San Diego Coastkeeper’s new Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program and participate in monthly field days to collect water samples at ten sites in Mission Bay. Learn more
|
