Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
August 2025
We all play a part in preventing stormwater pollution. Here are some ways to get involved in August 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 help 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, The San Diego River Park Foundation, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR), San Diego Canyonlands, San Dieguito River Park, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, Friends of Ruffin Canyon, Friends of Rose Creek, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, California State Parks Foundation, Green Oceanside, Caltrans Stormwater Program, City of San Diego, ASCENDtials, San Diego Bird Alliance, Preserve Calavera, and Keep America Beautiful.
Now through July 4, 2026 – Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup – Learn more or pledge.
August 1
August 2
August 3
August 5
August 7
August 8
August 9
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8am to 11am – The San Diego River Park Foundation Community River Clean-Up with River Rescue Team. Learn more or sign up.
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8:30am to 10am – Preserve Calavera Rancho La Costa Restoration. Learn more or RSVP.
August 10
August 12
August 14
August 15
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8am to 12pm – San Diego River Park Foundation Water Quality Monitoring: East County. Learn more or sign up.
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9am to 12pm – San Diego Bird Alliance and Friends of Rose Creek – Rose Creek Habitat Restoration. Learn more.
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9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Session for Long-term Volunteers. Learn more or sign up.
August 16
August 17
August 19
August 20
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8am to 12pm – The San Diego River Park Foundation Preserve Stewards at Eagle Peak Ranch. Learn more or sign up.
August 21
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3pm to 5pm – San Diego Coastkeeper and the Caltrans Stormwater Program - Weeknight Cleanup and Meetup – Crown Point Park, Mission Bay. Learn more.
August 22
August 23
August 24
August 26
August 28
August 29
August 31
Monthly/Ongoing or On Your Own Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events:
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Tuesdays and Fridays, 8am to 11am – The San Diego River Park Foundation River Assessment Field Teams (RAFT). Learn more or sign up.
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Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am to 12pm – San Dieguito River Park Dust Devils Habitat and Trail Restoration Events – Inland and Coastal Trails. Learn more.
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Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8am to 11am – The San Diego River Park Foundation River Rescue Cleanups. Learn more or sign up.
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San Diego Surfrider Foundation Ongoing Solo Cleanups. Learn more.
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Coastkeeper San Diego Six Cleanup Challenge, Flexible Dates/Times. Learn more and see the list of challenge sites.
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ILACSD Adopt-A-Beach/Adopt-A Canyon Program, Flexible Dates/Flexible Times – Adopt a beach or canyon and lead independent cleanups on your schedule. Learn more and adopt a location.
University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program – The following events will be offered in August.
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August 6, 3pm to 4pm – UC Ag Experts Talk Webinar Series – Field Crop Insect and Weed Management Updates – Get an introduction to agronomic cropping systems and their current weed and insect pest management challenges. Learn more or register.
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August 12, 9am to 4:30pm (ENGLISH); August 26, 9am to 4:30pm (SPANISH) – Pesticide Safety Zoom Workshop, Instructor Training (fee $300) – The Train the Trainer workshop will qualify participants to train fieldworkers and pesticide handlers under CA pesticide regulations. Learn more or register.
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August 21, 12pm to 1pm – Urban & Community Webinar Series – Managing Invasive Plants – Learn about the impacts of invasive plants, and ways you can help prevent the spread of invasive plants. Learn more or register.
Thomas Payne Foundation – Right Plant, Right Place Online Class – August 6, 6pm to 8pm ($$ fees vary) – Learn how to choose the right plants for your place. This course discusses local plant communities, groups of species that naturally occur together, and their growing conditions. It will also talk about resources to assess the conditions of your garden, including climate, soil, sunlight and space. Presented by Terrence Williams, Nursery Technician at Theodore Payne Foundation. Learn more or reserve a spot.
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) – CNPS 2025 Veg-a-thons (Big Pines/San Gabriel Mountains) – August 7 through 10 – Attend this free event where participants, regardless of their expertise level, get together with CNPS botanists to conduct vegetation surveys in a fun and collaborative environment. These events provide you with an opportunity to share your knowledge, enhance your skills, enjoy the outdoors, and connect with fellow botany enthusiasts. Sign up for interest.
Alta Vista Botanical Garden – Kids in the Garden Classes – August 9, 10am to 12pm – ($5 fee, includes entry to the Garden) – Kids and their families are invited to attend Saturday classes featuring hands-on activities, conservation lessons, and tours of the gardens. Topics vary by month with August’s theme being Water is Wonderful. Sponsored by Building Kidz School. Learn more or pre-register with Farmer Jones at farmerjonesavbg@gmail.com.
Landscape and Water-Savings Webinars – A series of landscape and water-savings in-person classes and webinars will be offered monthly hosted by the Metropolitan Water District and various regional water agencies. Dates and times vary. All events will be virtual and free unless otherwise noted.
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Webinars with multiple dates in August include these topics: transforming lawns, California native landscapes, garden design, and drip irrigation maintenance. Search offerings and register here: California Friendly Classes
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Garden Design Seminar – August 14, 5pm to 6:45pm (in-person) – Ready to create a garden that’s both beautiful and climate-resilient? This in-person, hands-on design seminar will walk you through the process of planning a landscape that captures rainwater, conserves resources, and thrives with local conditions. Register here: California Friendly Classes
The following topics will be hosted by California American Water:
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Protecting the Trees – Learn the steps you can take to protect the health of trees including understanding how they collaborate in the landscape, developing an irrigation strategy for efficiently watering trees, and developing a successful maintenance practice to ensure survival.
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Beautiful Gardens on Minimal Water – Learn how to have a beautiful resilient garden using the principles of watershed-wise landscaping including supporting gardens through key management practices, converting lawns to organically maintained polycultures, managing limited irrigation as efficiently as possible, and protecting your trees when the water gets dialed back.
San Diego Botanic Garden Monthly SAPLinGS Sessions – Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in August, 10am to 12pm – Children are invited to join for Science, Art, and Play in Garden Spaces (SAPLinGS) activities. Topics vary by month and will focus on a different plant or nature-based theme. Science activities engage kids with cool hands-on learning that stimulates curiosity. Art activities focus on projects that spark the imagination. Learn more.
WaterSmart Residential Landscape and Irrigation Workshops – The San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Program is providing past recordings of 3-Hour Landscape Workshops. View past workshops.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources – Ask a UC Master Food Preserver Live Q&A Webinar – August 6, 7pm to 8pm – A panel of volunteers specializing in freezing, dehydrating, canning and food safety will be available to answer your questions. They will also share their tips so you can safely and successfully preserve food at home. Learn more or register.
Zero Waste San Diego San Diego Fixit Clinics – Learn how to reduce waste by fixing things instead of throwing items away at the following Fix-It Clinics in August. 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. Clinics hosted by Zero Waste San Diego with the help of many other zero waste partners.
The Living Coast Discovery Center – The following composting events will be offered in August.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation – The following residential and business events will be offered in August.
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August 16, 10:30am to 12pm – Food Hacks that Prevent Waste Workshop – Learn practical solutions for reducing food waste in your home by making small changes to your daily life and habits. Topics include tips for buying only what you need, eating what you buy, and avoiding throwing away food. Learn about the social, environmental, and economic impacts of food waste. You will also learn where and how food is being wasted in the U.S. and around the world. Sponsored by the City of San Diego Environmental Services. Site location Rancho Penasquitos Library. Learn more or register.
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August 20, 27 and 28 – Food Recovery Inspection Training – California SB 1383 Compliance ($900 fee; discount for CRRA members) – In this 2-part webinar (over 3 days), experts will present deep insights into the Edible Food Recovery aspect of California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act SB 1383, in which food businesses donate 100% of surplus edible food that would otherwise be disposed of. Day 1 introduces relevant aspects of the law and then focuses on edible food rescue requirements. Days 2 & 3 take place over two days and provides comprehensive training for conducting edible food recovery inspections in the commercial sector. Registrants who attend all 3 days of the training will receive a certificate of completion. Learn more or register.
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August 20, 9am to 1pm – Part 1: Fundamentals of SB1383 Food Recovery - Compliance Overview. Learn about relevant aspects of the law and edible food rescue requirements. Topics include the impetus behind the law and overview of regulations, edible food recovery requirements and programming, and donation guidelines, liability and tax benefits. This webinar addresses various perspectives including jurisdictions, food-generating businesses, food recovery organizations, haulers, and residents. Part 1 alone will not address training specific to inspections.
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August 27 and 28, 9am to 1pm – Part 2: Inspection Training for Food Recovery - All You Need to Begin Tomorrow. Receive comprehensive training for conducting edible food recovery inspections in the commercial sector. Topics include step-by-step guidance for conducting edible food recovery inspections at businesses and food recovery organizations, including discussions common stumbling blocks for each business sector as well as inspection demonstrations and interactive exercises.
I Love a Clean San Diego – The following events will be offered in August.
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August 23, 10am to 11am -- Save Your Scraps: Vermicomposting Workshop – Learn how to reduce your food waste and compost at home! Topics include how to reduce food waste in the kitchen, the importance of keeping food waste out of landfills through composting and the organic waste recycling program, and tips on how to use the curbside green bin. Attendees can make and take home a vermicomposting bin (worm composting) during the workshop. A Sprouting Station will be open for attendees to plant fruit and vegetable seeds to take home and grow. Sponsored by the City of Vista. Site location: Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. Learn more or register.
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August 27, 11am to 12pm – Fast Fashion’s Footprint: The Path to Shopping Sustainably Webinar –Attend this webinar to learn how to create a conscious closet and reduce the clothing waste you produce. Topics include textile recycling ideas, low waste laundry habits, thrift shopping tips, local secondhand store recommendations, and the environmental impacts of fast fashion and why we should avoid purchasing. Sponsored by the County of San Diego. Learn more or register.
South Bay Sustainable Communities Network – The following events will be offered in August.
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August 3, 17, and 31, 8:30am to 11:30am – Compost Workshops Turnings/Hands-On Learning – Learn how to turn and harvest a backyard compost system. Bring your gloves, hat and food scraps! Learn more or RSVP to the August 3rd, 17th, and 31st
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August 8, 11:30am to 12:30pm – Compost and Organic Matter Soil Curriculum w/Emily Zoom Meeting – The goal of this meeting is to plan how the youth of San Diego can get the compost education they need to change how San Diegans recycle. Learn more and sign up.
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Various days, timeslots, and cities – Monthly Compost Pile Turnings –– Attend these monthly turnings of South Bay Sustainable Communities Network 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 the bottom of home page to check calendar for hub locations and dates.
Nature Collective – San Elijo Lagoon Discovery Tour – August 2, 10am to 11:30am – Get a guided tour of the salt marsh, mudflats, and native plants of the San Elijo Lagoon. Learn more or reserve your spot.
Living Coast Discovery Center – The following events will be offered in August.
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August 2, 4pm to 7:30pm – Farm to Bay 16th Annual Fundraiser – ($120 per ticket) – Join the Living Coast Discovery Center in its efforts to support sustainability, education, and conservation programs. The evening will include live music, auctions, sunset views on San Diego Bay, and more! Learn more or buy tickets.
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Saturdays, 11:30am to 12pm–Join the Center every Saturday to explore the Sweetwater Marsh Trail on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Here you will learn about the history of the Marsh, salt marsh ecosystem, plants, and wildlife thriving in this protected space. Learn more or sign up for the August 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation – The following programs will be offered in August.
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Adult Summer Speaker Series (Free for members; $15 fee for non-members) – Two speakers will be speaking this month from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. No RSVP is needed. Learn more.
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August 6, Monarchs and Milkweed – Guest Speaker Ken Abernathy of Caterpillar Chow will be presenting on the importance of native milkweed habitat and its impact on the population of the monarch butterfly. Native milkweed will also be available for purchase.
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August 20, Carlsbad Rangers – The Carlsbad Ranger Program is aimed at ensuring a secure, pristine, and enjoyable environment for visitors across the City's preserves, parks, trails, lagoons, open spaces, and beaches. Come meet Carlsbad Police Rangers, Belinda Butcher and John Hull, to learn about their methods and how you, as a citizen, can contribute to safeguarding Carlsbad's natural surroundings!
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August 23, 5:30pm to 10pm – Discovery Gala 2025 – Barbie’s Dream Lagoon ($$ ticket prices vary) – Attend this Barbie and Ken-inspired fundraiser and glamorous night celebrating 35 years of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation! The evening features fine dining, a live auction, entertainment, and community connection to support of environmental education and conservation. Learn more and purchase tickets.
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Daily program Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm – Preschool Playdates Outdoor Program ($$ fees vary) – All children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join the daily program for nature-themed lessons and activities. Each day will include environmental education and literacy, a craft made from recycled materials, outdoor play, and more. You can register for individual days or the entire week. Early release options are available at 1pm, 3pm, and 4pm. Topics vary by month with the August topic being Earth Explorers. Learn more or register.
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Saturdays through August, 9am to 10:30am – Summer Kids Club ($$ member fees vary) – This ‘members only’ program for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade is designed to nurture a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature complete with engaging crafts to bring home. Each Saturday will highlight a different aspect of science, nature, or animals with the August topics being Pollinators (8/2), Now You See Me…The Amazing World of Camouflage (8/9), Dino-mite Adventures! (8/16), How Does Your Garden Grow? (8/23), and Meet the Locals! (8/30). Learn more to register and sign up to be a member.
San Diego Coastkeeper - Watershed Watch, Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program – Be part of a team of passionate individuals interested in protecting our waterways. Join San Diego Coastkeeper’s Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program and participate in monthly field days to collect water samples at ten sites in Mission Bay. The following events will be offered in August.
Buena Vista Audubon – The following events will be offered in August:
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August 10, 11am to 12:30pm – Kid's Nature Clubhouse and Trail Exploration – School-aged children and their families are invited to complete a nature-inspired craft and explore the lagoon trail with a different focus each month. The 1/2 hour trail adventure starts from the Nature Center at 11:00am. Learn more.
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August 25, 10am to 10:45am – Preschool Nature Storytime – Join the Nature Center for nature-themed stories for preschool children, aged 2 ½ to 5 years. There will be a story, songs, fun craft, and special theme each month. Learn more.
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation Docent-Led Lagoon Walks – Savoring the Seasons – August 16, 10am to 11:30am – As summer progresses into Fall, changes large and small play out across the wetland. Come for a 90-minute docent-led nature walk to discover the plants and wildlife native to the Batiquitos Lagoon. Learn more.
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR) – Junior Rangers Program Ongoing Kids’ Educational Event – Saturdays 11am to 12pm – Kids ages 8 through 12 are invited to take part in discovering the rich heritage preserved in parks. They will participate in hands-on activities and can earn awards such as pins, certificates, and patches as they progress through the program! Learn more by clicking on the August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd or 30th dates.
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