Great Sierra River Cleanup

Let’s combat pollution in Eastern Sierra waterways! ESLT is organizing a cleanup on September 17th as part of the California Coastal Commission’s annual Great Sierra River Cleanup.

The Great Sierra River Cleanup is part of California Coastal Cleanup day. During last year’s California Coastal Cleanup, 36,289 volunteers came out to 3,086 cleanups, 363,719 lbs of trash and recyclables were removed, and 1,335 miles were cleaned. 

Let’s make this year even bigger! You can help us keep litter out of our waterways by marking your calendars for Saturday, September 17, from 8:30-11:30 am. We will remove trash along the Owens River on LADWP land near the Artesian Springs. Volunteers will meet at dirt parking spots just south of the bridge over the Owens along East Line Street. There will be pastries and coffee available before the cleanup. Stick around afterwards for snacks, beverages, and a free raffle with exciting prizes donated by our sponsors. One lucky winner will also receive a “Most Interesting Find” award.

Data collection is important for this event. We want to know what kinds of litter are the most abundant, as well as any interesting finds. You will have the option of using the Clean Swell app or a paper form to document what kinds of trash you pick up. Read this document for instructions on how to use the Clean Swell app. 

ESLT will provide PPE, trash bags, and paper forms to document the types of trash we find. Please wear long pants and sturdy footwear, bring a water bottle, and wear sun protection. There are no restrooms at this location, so please plan accordingly. RSVP with Claire at or call our office at 760-873-4554.

Thank you to all of our sponsors including LADWP, the California Coastal Commission, INYO 350, the Sierra Club Range of Light Group, Looney Bean of Bishop, Sierra Nevada Alliance, and Great Basin Bakery.