Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events
January 2026
We all play a part in preventing stormwater pollution. Here are some ways to get involved in January 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, San Diego River Park Foundation, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR), San Diego Canyonlands, San Dieguito River Park, Friends of Ruffin Canyon, Friends of Rose Creek, Friends of Famosa Slough, ASCENDtials, San Diego Bird Alliance, Escondido Creek Conservancy, and Keep America Beautiful.
Now through July 4, 2026 – Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup – Learn more or pledge.
January 2
January 3
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9am to 12pm – Friends of Ruffin Canyon Cleanup. Learn more.
January 6
January 9
January 10
January 13
January 15
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8:30am to 12:30pm – San Diego River Park Foundation Water Quality Monitoring: West County. Learn more or sign up.
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3pm to 5pm – ILACSD and Green Oceanside Stay Classy O’side: Martin Luther King Jr. Park Cleanup. Learn more or register.
January 16
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8:30am to 12:30pm – 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 or RSVP.
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9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Session for Long-term Volunteers. Learn more or sign up.
January 17
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San Diego River Park Foundation Kayak and Shore Clean-Up at the Estuary:
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8am to 10:30am – San Diego Canyonlands Stewardship Saturday from Olivia Canyon to Bill Tall’s Garden. Learn more or sign up.
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9:30am to 1pm – San Diego Bird Alliance Coastal Least Tern Habitat Restoration - Mission Bay. Learn more or RSVP.
January 18
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12:15pm to 2:00pm – ASCENDtials Climate Cares Highway Cleanup - Coronado Route 75. Learn more here. To register, click on the ‘check availability’ button and select the 1/18 date.
January 20
January 23
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9am to 12pm – San Diego Bird Alliance and Friends of Famosa Slough Habitat Restoration and Maintenance. Learn more or register.
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9am to 12pm – TRNERR Friday Stewardship Session for Long-term Volunteers. Learn more or sign up.
January 24
January 27
January 30
Monthly/Ongoing or On Your Own Stormwater Pollution Prevention Events:
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Tuesdays and Fridays, 8am to 11am – 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 – 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.
The Water Conservation Garden – The following events will be offered in January. Sponsored by Otay and Helix Water Districts, Sweetwater Authority, and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, and the County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program.
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January 9, 9am to 4pm – Free-Day Fridays – Attendees will receive free admission on the second Friday of every month. Activities include mini-tours, arts & crafts, community partner booths, scavenger hunts and prizes, and more. Learn more.
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January 31, 10am to 12:30pm – Free 2026 County Workshops – How to Hire a Landscaper and Save Money! with Ms. Smarty-Plants™ – Ms. Smarty-Plants gives an informative, common-sense approach to hiring a landscape professional. You’ll learn which questions to ask, how to properly plan, and receive money-saving tips too! Learn more and register.
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January 31, 9am to 4pm – Monthly Water District Wave-In Day – On the last Saturday of every month, free admission to the Garden is offered to customers of supporting water districts for a day of learning about sustainable living and water-wise gardening. Enjoy workshops, community partner booths, and water-wise exhibits that help you improve your individual impact on the planet. Learn more or register.
University of California Cooperative Extension’s (UCCE) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program – The following events will be offered in January.
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January 10, 10am to 11:30am – Healthy Garden-Healthy Home (in-person and Zoom) Community Workshop – Irrigation and Runoff Management – Learn about irrigation management including how to evaluate and improve your irrigation systems, avoid runoff and erosion issues, and how to customize your irrigation methods to fit your landscape. Offered in partnership with the County of San Diego. Site location: San Diego County Operations Center, 9335 Hazard Way, San Diego. Learn more or register.
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January 15, 12pm to 1pm – Urban & Community Webinar Series – Pests of Backyard Chickens – Learn about the identification, prevention, and management of common pests of backyard chickens (ectoparasites) found in backyard chicken flocks. Learn more or register.
UCANR Master Gardeners of San Diego – The following events will be offered in January.
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January 10, 9am to 12pm – Tool Care at Balboa Park Garden – The Tool Care Team in partnership with the San Diego Rose Society will sharpen the pruners of volunteers who come to participate in the annual rose pruning demonstration and volunteer opportunity. Learn more.
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January 15, 12pm to 1pm – Garden Talk: Seeds, Wild Flowers, and Propagation for Beginners – A Master Gardener will speak to the Bernardo Gardeners all about propagation. No experience needed. Site location: Rancho Bernardo Swim and Tennis Club. Learn more.
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Monthly (First Wednesday), 12pm to 1pm – Lunch & Learn Master Gardener Q&A Sessions – San Diego County Operations Center Demonstration Garden – Attend this monthly session to get science-based answers and practical advice from UCCE’s experts to Californians on topics such as integrated pest management, nutrition, and agricultural economics. Site location: San Diego County Operations Center, Suite 201, 9335 Hazard Way, San Diego. Learn more and sign up for the January Q&A.
Landscape and Water-Savings Webinars – A series of landscape and water-savings webinars will be offered in January hosted by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California or in partnership with other water agencies. Dates and times vary. All events will be virtual and free unless otherwise noted. See calendar and learn more or register.
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California Friendly & Native Plant Landscape Training – Learn how to design a yard using the four principles of gorgeous and watershed-wise landscaping. Topics include building healthy soil, capturing rainwater, selecting climate-appropriate and native plants, and use of high-efficiency irrigation.
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Transforming Lawns: A Sustainable Approach (virtual and in person events) – Learn how to transform your yard into a beautiful, sustainable, and water-efficient landscape. Topics include selecting climate-appropriate plant palettes, planning a new landscape that thrives with less water, and exploring sustainable landscape techniques, functions, turf removal options and rebates. In-person event offered in partnership with City of Escondido.
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Garden Design Workshop – Learn how to identify critical steps for successfully designing a watershed-wise landscape. Topics include creating a successful planting plan, developing a palette of climate-appropriate plants, and sizing and siting the rainwater capture area.
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Rain to Roots: Water for Your Garden – Learn how to use best management practices for capturing rainwater in the landscape using both passive and active methods. Topics include choosing the right rainwater capture method for your landscape, siting and sizing rain gardens for optimal performance, maintenance tips and troubleshooting common issues, and managing overflow to prevent erosion and flooding. Offered in partnership with Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
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Irrigation & Controller Basics: Smart Watering – Learn how to optimize water use, improve plant health, and reduce runoff by understanding the relationship between soil, water, and system performance. Topics include an overview and basics of irrigation systems, typical irrigation problems and troubleshooting, weather-based controllers, programming essentials, and more.
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Drip Irrigation: Maintenance & Troubleshooting – Learn how to keep your landscape thriving by making your drip irrigation system more efficient and reliable. Topics include understanding soil moisture balance, identifying key drip system components, reviewing common problems with drip systems and how to avoid them, and developing a successful maintenance routine.
San Diego Botanic Garden – Monthly SAPLinGS Sessions – Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in January, 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 Events – The San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Program is providing past recordings of 3-Hour Landscape Workshops. View past workshops.
Through January 2026 (dates vary depending on city) – Countywide Christmas Tree Recycling – Help divert your Christmas tree from the landfill following your holiday festivities! Many communities in San Diego County have options for Christmas tree recycling at your curbside collection or at various drop-off locations. Options will include both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County. Locations will be available in mid-December at WasteFreeSD.org.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Waste Reduction Events – The following events will be offered in January.
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January 10, 10am to 12pm – Landscaping Practices that Improve Soil and Prevent Pollution – Learn how to address concerns with stormwater runoff and pollution, whether in your small backyard or larger farm or ranch. Discussion will include effective compost application for watershed protection as well as a case study of the manure composting demonstration site at Ramona's International Equestrian Center. Additional topics include mid-scale windrow composting, water catchment basins and rock interrupters, and native plantings. Funded by the County of San Diego. Learn more or register.
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January 17, 10am to 12pm – Backyard Composting and Bokashi Basics Workshop – Borrego Springs – Learn the basics of traditional composting and get an introduction to bokashi, a fermentation method that preserves your food scraps until you’re ready to compost them. Funded by the County of San Diego. Site host: Borrego Art Institute. Learn more or register.
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January 31, 10am to 12pm – In-Ground Composting with Worms Workshop - Ramona – Learn about the benefits of vermicomposting (composting with worms) and turning food waste into a natural fertilizer for your plants. Key topics include appropriate tools, materials and steps to start a vermicompost bin, how to feed your worms, and which foods are suitable. All pre-registered attendees who are residents of unincorporated San Diego County can receive a free kitchen scraps container. Funded by the County of San Diego. Site location and host: Ramona Library. Learn more or register.
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Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Household Pickup Service ($10 fee for people under 65; free for people 65 and over) – A HHW pick-up service is being offered to residents in San Diego County. Accepted items include electronic waste, light bulbs and fluorescent tubes, batteries, fuel, smoke detectors, cleaning products, paint and more. 125 pounds or 15 gallons (whichever one comes first) can be picked up at one time. Call CleanEarth at 800-714-1195 to schedule a pickup and confirm what items are accepted. Learn more.
San Diego Fixit Clinics – Learn how to reduce waste by fixing things instead of throwing items away at the following Fix-It Clinics in January. 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 SD Fixit Clinic with the help of many other zero waste partners.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Forest Stewardship Workshop: San Diego and Surrounding Counties – January 27, 12am to March 24 11:59pm – Forest landowners across California are invited to the next Forest Stewardship workshop! By participating, you will develop a forest management plan, connect with forestry professionals at UC ANR, and become eligible for a free site visit on your property. Participants will utilize online resources on their own time to complete learning modules and short activities. Learn more or register.
I Love a Clean San Diego – Slow Down Swap Party– Attend these swap parties to slow down our consumption and exchange some clothing and accessories. These will help divert fabrics from our local landfills and recirculate them back into the San Diego community. Offered in partnership with the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department.
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January 12, 5pm to 7pm – Slow Down Swap Party at the Hillcrest Youth Center. Site location: Hillcrest Youth Center. Learn more or register.
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January 28, 10am to 1pm – Slow Down Swap Party at the Serra Mesa Food Pantry. Site location: Serra Mesa Food Pantry. Learn more or register.
South Bay Sustainable Communities Network Monthly Compost Pile Turnings – Various days, timeslots, and cities – 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
Friends of Rose Creek King Tides Events – The following events will be offered in January.
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January 3, 7:30am to 9am – King Tides Project at Rose Creek Salt Marsh and Estuary – Help document the Tides in the Rose Creek Salt Marsh and Estuary adjacent to Mission Bay High and Barnard Elementary Schools. Participants will use their smart phone or digital camera to participate in the Project by taking and uploading photos of king tides through the King Tides Photo Upload form. Offered in partnership with San Diego Bird Alliance. Learn more.
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January 3, 3:15pm to 4:45pm – King Tides Antithesis Walk at Rose Creek – The antithesis of the King Tides is the extreme low tide which takes place on January 3 at 3:38 PM. Join the group to walk to the mouth of Rose Creek to experience nature along a wheelchair accessible asphalt path from the Mike Gotch Bridge to the mouth of Rose Creek. Learn more.
Escondido Creek Conservancy Welcome to the Watershed Series! – January 3, 9am to 12pm – Enjoy nature and learn about the work the Conservancy is doing to protect special places throughout the Escondido Creek Watershed. This free monthly activity could include a gentle nature or flower walk, hiking, biking, or nature photography. Learn more or reserve a spot.
California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Seminar Series – Annual State of the Union – January 22, 10am to 3pm ($$ fees vary) – This seminar will feature State and Federal regulatory discussions and legislation. Details are pending. Registration closes January 21st at noon Pacific time. Learn more or register.
The San Diego River Park Foundation – Rollin' with the River! A Rolling Tour of the San Diego River – January 24, 9am to 11am – Attend for a fun rolling (wheeled) tour of the beautiful San Diego River to learn about flora, fauna, and how to become an advocate for your community. This is a wheeled-tour for cyclists, skateboarders and scooters. Site location: Town Center Community Park East, Santee. Learn more or sign up.
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