Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
MAY 2024
We all play a part in preventing stormwater pollution. Here are some ways to get involved in May 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, Keep America Beautiful, City of Carlsbad, City of San Diego, and City of La Mesa.
May 1
May 2
May 3
-
9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Cleanup and Restoration Session. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm, 12:30pm to 3:30pm – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Lagoona Kahuna 2024 Cleanup Challenge (event timeslots and fees vary). Learn more or sign up.
May 4
-
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 11am – ILACSD/Green Oceanside - Stay Classy O’side Cleanup, Lake Blvd. Street Sweep Cleanup. Learn more.
-
9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation San Diego Ocean Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation San Diego Oceanside Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 12pm – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Lagoona Kahuna 2024 Cleanup Challenge (event timeslots and fees vary). Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 12pm – Friends of Ruffin Canyon, Ruffin Canyon Cleanup. Learn more.
-
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 5/4 date on the calendar.
May 5
-
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 5/5 date on the calendar.
May 6
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
May 7
May 9
May 10
May 11
-
8am to 10:30am – San Diego Canyonlands Manzanita 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 11:30am – City of Carlsbad Trail Cleanup – Hosp Grove Trail. Learn more.
-
9am to 10:30am – Preserve Calavera Rancho La Costa Restoration. Learn more or RSVP.
-
9am to 11am – ILACSD/City of La Mesa - Litter Free La Mesa: Downtown Village & Neighborhood Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – ILACSD/San Diego River Foundation: San Diego River Days Cleanup, Mast Park. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 12pm – San Diego Audubon Friends of Famosa Slough Work Party. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – Friends of Rose Creek Native Plant 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 5/11 date on the calendar.
May 13
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
May 14
May 15
May 16
May 17
May 18
-
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.
-
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 by selecting the 5/18 date on the dropdown menu.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Coastkeeper Watershed Walks – Tijuana River Valley Park Trail. Learn more.
-
9:15am to 10:30am – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Highway Cleanup, Highway 75 at Coronado Island. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 5/18 date on the calendar.
-
10am to 12pm – Surfrider Foundation San Diego Imperial Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
May 20
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
May 23
May 24
May 25
-
8am to 10:30am – San Diego Canyonlands Hollywood Canyon Habitat Restoration. Learn more or sign up.
-
8am to 12pm – Park Beautification Saturdays at Louis A. Stelzer Park, Lakeside. Learn more.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Audubon Wander the Wetlands Work Party. Learn more or RSVP.
-
9am to 11am – Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Algerian Sea Lavender Removal. Learn more or sign up.
-
9am to 11am – Surfrider Foundation San Diego South Ponto State Beach Cleanup. Learn more or register.
-
9am to 11am – San Diego Canyonlands Gonzalaz Canyon Habitat Restoration. Learn more or sign up.
-
9:15am to 11:30 – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Highway Cleanup, Highway 125 at Quarry/Elketon. Learn more or sign up by selecting the 5/25 date on the calendar.
May 27
-
9am to 12pm – Buena Vista Audubon Weekly Nature Center Garden Work Party. Learn more.
May 28
May 30
May 31
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 May 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 May 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.
-
Keep America Beautiful 2024 Great American Cleanup – #152Pickup Challenge – March 19 Kickoff – Join Keep America Beautiful and its local affiliate I Love A Clean San Diego in their mission of picking up litter and greening up our local communities. Learn more, pledge to participate in the #152Pickup Challenge, and register for local community cleanup 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 in May.
-
May 1, 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.
-
May 8, 5:30pm to 8:30pm – Installation & Maintenance: Protecting Your Investment – Learn strategies for success when removing your turf, installing your new landscape and maintaining it, and minimizing your water use. Learn more or register.
-
May 11, 5:30pm to 8:30pm – 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.
-
May 18, 9am to 12pm – Design: Shape Your Space – Learn how to plan for the functionality of your new landscape along with tips to create a design that fits your personal style. Learn more or register.
-
May 25, 9am to 12pm – 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.
-
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.
-
Past Recordings of 3-Hour Landscape Workshops – View past workshops.
UCCE Master Gardener Association of San Diego – The following events will be offered in May.
-
May 1-11, 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.
-
May 4, 9am to 3pm – Spring Garden Expo - Let the Young Buds Bloom – Lemon Grove – Gardening talks and demonstrations will be presented by knowledgeable Master Gardeners. Topics may include plant care, pest discovery and management, composting with worms, sustainable landscaping, and more. Hands-on activities suitable for all ages will be offered, allowing participants to make personalized garden-themed crafts to adorn their outdoor spaces. Learn more.
-
May 18, 9am to 3pm – Spring Garden Expo – Grow, Sow, and Shop – Gardening talks and demonstrations will be presented by knowledgeable Master Gardeners. Topics may include plant care, pest discovery and management, composting with worms, sustainable landscaping, and more. Hands-on activities suitable for all ages will be offered, allowing participants to make personalized garden-themed crafts to adorn their outdoor spaces. Plant sales will also be offered. Learn more.
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Events – May 2, 5:30pm to 6:30pm – Naturehood Monthly Gardening Webinars – May Naturehood 101: Spring to Summer Garden Needs – As we move from late Spring toward Summer, learn how to assess and plan for your maintenance needs. Webinar will cover looking at the effects of a long wet season, how to plan for the dry season, when to prune, and other garden maintenance planning. Learn more.
UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program – The UC IPM is offering the following webinars during the month of May.
-
May 8, 8am to 5pm (ENGLISH); May 15, 9am to 12pm (SPANISH) – Pesticide Safety Zoom Workshop, Train-the-Trainer (fee $400) – This workshop provides a review of the required annual training topics for fieldworkers and handlers. Topics will cover 2024 regulation updates, pesticide exposure, signs and symptoms of illness, emergency medical care, proper use of personal protective equipment, safe handling and transportation of pesticides, and laws and regulations regarding labels and safety data sheets. Learn more or register.
-
May 16, 12pm to 1pm – Urban and Community IPM Webinar – Moles, Voles & Gophers! – Learn how to manage these pests that can damage your garden and landscape by eating seedlings and plant roots, damaging tree bark, and making lawns unpleasant with their mounds and tunnels. Learn more or register.
University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Healthy Garden-Healthy Home Virtual Community Workshops – The following workshops are being offered in May in partnership with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) and the County of San Diego. Learn more about each of the events here.
-
May 3, 10am to 11:30am – How to Grow a Salsa Garden: Garden Vegetables Pests and Diseases – Learn about proper planting for a healthier garden, and tips for controlling common pests and diseases of your backyard salsa garden.
-
May 11, 10am to 11:30am – Save Water & Money and Have a Healthy Landscape: Irrigation and Runoff Management – Learn how to evaluate, improve, and customize your irrigation system, avoid runoff and erosion issues, and save money.
-
May 15, 10am to 11:30am – Starting to Grow Your Own Food? Win the Battle Against Pests: Healthy Gardening – Learn how to keep your plants healthy, prevent pests, and understand the good bugs and bad bugs that are a part of every garden.
-
May 17, 10am to 11:30am – Growing Fresh Herbs for Cooking: Herb Garden Pests & Diseases – Learn how to grow herbs in containers, recognize common pests and plant diseases, and safely prevent and control pests and diseases.
-
May 24, 10am to 11:30am – Control Ants the Healthy Way: Controlling Ants in Your Home and Garden – Learn what to do when ants invade your plants and home, how to make your home and garden less attractive to ants, and how chemicals and bait control work and don’t work.
-
May 25, 10am to 11:30am – How to Grow a Salsa Garden; Garden Vegetables Pests and Diseases – Learn about proper planting for a healthier garden, and tips for controlling common pests and diseases of your backyard salsa garden.
-
May 31, 10am to 11:30am – Save Water & Money and Have a Healthy Landscape: Irrigation and Runoff Management – Learn how to evaluate, improve, and customize your irrigation system, avoid runoff and erosion issues, and save money.
San Diego Botanic Garden – The following events are being offered in May.
-
May 24, 2pm to 3pm – Monthly Summer Science Series – ($$ fees vary and include Garden admission) – 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 yet to be determined. Registration by May 23rd. Learn more or register.
-
May 25, 10am to 12:30pm – Grow Food, End Hunger, Save the Planet – ($10 refundable deposit; includes Garden admission) – Workshop takeaways include, organic seedlings, organic seed packets, garden tools, a local garden resource and planting guide, tricks of the trade for a zero-waste kitchen, and so much more! Register by May 24th. Learn more or register.
-
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in May, 10am to 12pm – Monthly SAPLinGS Sessions – Children are invited to join for Science, Art, and Play in Garden Spaces (SAPLinGS) activities. Topics vary and will focus on a different plant or nature-based theme with May’s theme being ‘Flower Power.’ 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.
Landscape and Water-Savings Webinars – A series of landscape and water-savings webinars are being offered throughout the month of May. 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.
-
Irrigation and Water Use Efficiency – Learn about irrigation systems, programming controllers, why to choose drip over spray, and easy ways to conserve water.
South Bay Sustainable Communities Network – The following events will be offered in May.
-
May 4, 9am to 10:30am – Worm Bin Workshop 101 – Learn about these wonderful creatures who eat our organic food scraps as you put together your own worm bin. Starter worms are included with workshop, and space is limited. Worm bins are sponsored by the City of Chula Vista. Learn more or RSVP.
-
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.
Living Coast Discovery Center Compost Workshops – The following events will be offered in May.
-
May 5th, 12th, and 19th, 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 May 5th, 12th, and 19th
-
5 de mayo, 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.
-
May 26, 11:30am to 12:30pm – Vermicomposting Workshop – Learn how to build and care for your own worm bin. Learn more or register.
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) Waste Reduction Events – The following waste reduction events are being offered in May.
-
May 7, 1pm to 2pm – Organic Waste Recycling Webinar – Learn about the City of San Diego’s curbside organic waste recycling program. Topics include why it’s so important to divert organic waste from our landfills, what types of waste can be put in the green bin, and how to properly dispose of food waste through the curbside organic waste recycling program. Sponsored by the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department. Learn more or register.
-
Miramar Landfill Bus Tours – City of San Diego – Get a behind-the-scenes peek on what really happens when you dispose of waste and clear up the myth of throwing something “away”. Open to City of San Diego residents only.
-
May 29, 10am to 12pm – Slow Down Swap Party at the Serra Mesa Food Pantry – Join ILACSD in making fashion circular, by trading your clothes, accessories, and shoes at their swap party at the Serra Mesa Food Pantry. Donate by bringing gently-used items with you. Site location Mission Village Christian Fellowship. Learn more.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Waste Reduction Events – The following residential and business events are being offered in May.
-
May 8, 6pm to 7pm – Vermicomposting Basics Webinar – Learn about the benefits of worm composting, how to feed your worms and set up a worm bin, and tools and materials needed. Funded by the City of San Diego Environmental Services. Learn more or register.
-
May 11, 6pm to 9pm – Waste to Wonder 4th Anniversary Celebration! – ($$ fees vary) – Come celebrate the impactful community-led environmental work that Solana Center has done over the last 40 years and look ahead at the next 40 years! The evening’s events include networking and reconnecting, delicious vegan food and local drinks, live music, silent auction, and more! Learn more or purchase tickets.
-
May 16 – 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, May 10th for the Wednesday, May 16th pickup. Urban Corps will contact you to confirm pick-up. Offered in partnership with Urban Corps. Learn more or sign up.
-
May 18, 10am to 12pm – All About Worms Workshop – Alpine – 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 County of San Diego. Site location Alpine Library. Learn more or register.
SD Environmental Services One-Day Collection Events – City of San Diego – May 11, 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.
San Diego Surfrider Foundation – Free Screening: We’re All Plastic People Now – May 2, 5:30pm to 7:30pm – Learn how we are all becoming plastic people now. Includes panel discussion. Site location Chula Vista Public Library. Learn more or sign up.
San Diego River Valley Conservancy Creekside Critters – May 4, 11am to 12pm – A fun hands-on educational experience featuring Living Coast Discovery Center and their spectacular tidepool ambassadors! Offered in partnership with County of San Diego Parks & Recreation. Site location San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. Learn more or register.
San Diego Coastkeeper Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program – May 11, 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.
Center for Watershed Protection – 2024 Webcast Series: Webcast 4 – Design with Maintenance in Mind – May 15, 10am to 11:30am ($159 fee non-member) – Speaker: Derek Berg, Director – Stormwater Regulatory Management. Note time on website posted as Eastern Time. Scroll to webcast 4 to learn more or register.
I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) – Kids Ocean Day 2024 – May 17, 8:45am to 12pm – Kids Ocean Day, South Mission: Event Volunteer Support and Orientation – Learn about Kids Ocean Day and volunteer to support a field trip for nearly 1,000 students at Mission Beach. You will act as honorary ILACSD staff on the day (May 17th) to help make this event a success! Training included. Sign-ups being taken until May 1st. Learn more or register for Orientation recording.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Preschool Playdates Program – Daily program Monday through Friday, 9am to 1pm – ($$ fees vary) – All children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join the daily program for nature-themed lessons and activities. Each day will include environmental education and literacy, a craft made from recycled materials, outdoor play and more. You can choose to register for the entire week, four days, three days, two days or one day a week. Topics vary by month with the May topic being ‘Space Exploration.’ Learn more or register.
Living Coast Discovery Center Summer Wildlife Day Camp – Registration Now Open – Various sessions June through July, 8:30am through 4:30pm – ($$ fees vary) – Campers will spend their days learning about local wildlife; conservation, waste reduction and recycling; importance of water quality and beach cleanups, and so much more! Half-day and full-day options and fees vary by age group. Camps sponsored by the California State Coastal Conservancy and San Diego Foundation. Learn more or register.
|
