About Us

The Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership (SSQP) is a multi-jurisdictional
program made up of Sacramento County and the incorporated cities of Sacramento,
Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, and Rancho Cordova, educating and
encouraging the community to protect local waterways from the impacts of urban
run-off, which flows untreated from storm drains to creeks, streams and rivers.

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is rain that flows over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground. In urban areas less rain is able to infiltrate into the ground, thus creating urban runoff and picking up pollutants along the way. Stormwater carries pollutants such as trash, pet waste, and garden chemicals into nearby storm drains, which eventually flows into waterways untreated. This harms the quality of our waterways.

Learn more

Ways to Protect Water

We need your help to protect our local waters!

Water pollution primarily comes from residents and you
are the most important solution to stormwater pollution.
Learn how you can help prevent stormwater pollution
and improve our community.

Get Involved

Mercury

Mercury is very toxic to people and wildlife, and some of its uses have resulted in widespread contamination of the environment. Let’s work together to protect and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods and throughout the community for our enjoyment now…and for our children’s enjoyment in the future.

Stop pollution at the source:

Learn more
Mercury

Pesticides

Using less or non-toxic alternatives in your garden is important for a healthy garden, the beneficial bugs, our waterways, and our ecosystem. Let’s work together to protect and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods and throughout the community for our enjoyment now…and for our children’s enjoyment in the future.

Stop pollution at the source:

Learn more
Pesticides

Pet Waste

When pet waste is improperly disposed of, it can be picked up by stormwater runoff and washed into storm drains then directly to the river without being treated. Let’s work together to protect and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods and throughout the community for our enjoyment now…and for our children’s enjoyment in the future.

Stop pollution at the source:

Learn more
Pet Waste

Trash

Litter from sidewalks, streets, parking lots, and nature areas eventually find its way into our rivers. Let’s work together to protect and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods and throughout the community for our enjoyment now…and for our children’s enjoyment in the future.

Stop pollution at the source:

Learn more
Trash
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  • Mercury

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  • Trash

Events Calendar

< 2023 >
August
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July
July
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  • Steelhead Creek Weekly Cleanup 6.0 8/2/23
    09:00 -12:00
    08/02/2023

    Camp Pollock, 1501 Northgate Blvd., Sacramento, CA

    We are continuing our cleanup of this area by hiking over to the Steelhead Creek area, by the bike trail. This is where we left off during Deborah’s Riverdale Cleanups. There are several abandoned flooded camps to clean up. This will be the start to our new Steelhead cleanup with Roland Brady, ARPF Mile Steward for Steelhead Creek. Watch for several future cleanups nearby.
    Parking is free at Camp Pollock and the cleanup sites are fairly close with level terrain. This is an easy to moderate level cleanup. We will continue to work with CoParks to remove our piles.

    Please come out and help with this project.

    As with all events shared on RCWA, participation is performed solely at your own risk. Please place safety FIRST and do only what you feel comfortable doing. Moreover, participants will be required to sign a Release and Waiver form if they have not done so previously.

    Overall, be safe, have fun and get some “Exercise with a Purpose” as Bill Templin always says!

    Thank you!💚
    River City Waterway Alliance
    “Restoring & Protecting Our Waterways”
    Instagram @RiverCityWaterwayAlliance

    Link to Events:
    https://www.facebook.com/rivercitywaterwayalliance/events

    Link to YouTube Channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/@rivercitywaterwayalliance…/videos

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  • Discovery Park Woodlands Cleanup @ Archery Range 12.0, 8/3/23
    09:00 -12:00
    08/03/2023

    Discovery Park Archery Range

    This event is for 16+ years old only.

    Free parking passes will be available at the archery range parking lot. If the attendant is at the entrance booth, tell them you are here for the cleanup. These cleanups will target large abandoned camps with loads of trash. Sturdy shoes/boots and long sleeves and long pants are recommended because of thick bramble and poison oak. This will be a medium level event with a moderate walk.
    RCWA will provide bags, but please bring along your grabbers, buckets, and gloves – a limited number of loaner buckets and grabbers may be available.

    As with all events shared on RCWA, participation is performed solely at your own risk. Please place safety FIRST and do only what you feel comfortable doing. Moreover, participants will be required to sign a Release and Waiver form if they have not done so previously.

    Overall, be safe, have fun and get some “Exercise with a Purpose” as Bill Templin says.

    Thank you!💚

    River City Waterway Alliance
    “Restoring & Protecting Our Waterways”

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  • Friday Morning Arcade Creek Clean up
    08:00 -11:00
    08/04/2023

    Arcade Creek Park

    Duration: 3 hr

    We get into Arcade creek and sometimes haul out heavy items, so bring boots/waders and gloves. The difficulty level of this clean up is a 3-5, depending on the terrain you choose to work in.

  • Bannon Island Weekly Cleanup 17.0, 8/4/23
    09:00 -12:00
    08/04/2023

    2150 Gateway Oaks Dr, Sacramento, CA 95833

    This event is for 16+ years old only.

    For those who want to, we will again be driving right down and parking on the island. Parking will still be available in the big parking lot across Garden Hwy for those who don’t want to drive on the dirt road. 2150 Gateway Oaks.

    Sturdy shoes/boots and long sleeves and long pants are recommended because of thick bramble and poison oak. This will be a medium level event with a moderate walk.

    RCWA will provide bags, but please bring along your grabbers, buckets, and gloves – a limited number of loaner buckets and grabbers may be available.

    As with all events shared on RCWA, participation is performed solely at your own risk. Please place safety FIRST and do only what you feel comfortable doing. Moreover, participants will be required to sign a Release and Waiver form if they have not done so previously.

    Overall, be safe, have fun and get some “Exercise with a Purpose” as Bill Templin says.

    Thank you!💚

    River City Waterway Alliance
    “Restoring & Protecting Our Waterways”

5
  • Arcade Crk Cleanup @ Palm Ave 15.0, 8/05/23
    08:00 -12:00
    08/05/2023

    5400 Hackberry Lane, Sacramento, CA

    RCWA is partnering with Arcade Creek – Adopt A Creek Project to continue our focus on this trashed stretch of this 16.2 mile creek.

    We will be starting a little earlier due to the heat. Please bring lots of WATER and only do what you are comfortable doing.

    We will begin our cleanup at the end of Chris Ann Court and will be removing litter and bulk items in the creek and along both sides of the banks (some buried deep in the channel, some right on the surface). This cleanup location has some flat banks up top, but access down into the creek can be challenging and may require a rope to get into the channel.

    Please park on the west side of Hackberry Lane, just outside of Chris Ann Court.

    The event will range in difficulty from moderate to hard and may not be suitable for children under the age of 16. There will be something for almost everyone as we will be cleaning in the creek and up above, on land.

    We will provide bags, but please bring along your sturdy footwear, grabbers, buckets, and gloves – a limited number of loaner buckets and grabbers may be available. If there is water in the creek, participants will be required to wear rain boots or waders if they intend to get into the water. Entry into any waters is always optional.

    As with all events shared on our Page, participation is performed solely at your own risk. Please place safety FIRST and do only what you feel comfortable doing. Moreover, participants will be required to sign a Release and Waiver form if they have not done so previously.

    Overall, be safe, have fun and get some “Exercise with a Purpose”!, as Bill Templin says. Thank you! 💚

    Arcade Creek Adopt-A-Creek Project

  • Laguna Creek Floodplain and Vicinity Cleanup
    09:00 -11:00
    08/05/2023

    WE ARE BACK!! Time to get busy in Elk Grove and tackle some exposed trash and camp debris along the Laguna Creek floodplain.
    The grazers have cleared the dry grasses west of Bruceville and will hopefully be through munching eastward.

    Please park at the Wackford complex closest to Big Horn and look for our cones and table.

    Depending on numbers we can spread out to get it all cleared!
    There will be a variety of levels from slopes to flat trails to roadside ditches, as well as different types of trash.

    New to cleanups? Please arrive early to get signed in and get gear. If you have supplies, please bring your own gloves, buckets, bags, but we have items for you. Buckets, gloves, grabbers, vests, bags.

    Please wear appropriate clothing, boots 🥾 or closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, hats, and bring your own water.

    All cleanups are done at your own risk, but safety first! Our trash safety talk starts promptly at 9:00 am.

    See you soon!!

    Let’s Clean Elk Grove together!

6
  • Arcade Crk Cleanup @ Epic Bible College 1.0, 8/6/23
    08:00 -12:00
    08/06/2023

    4330 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95841-4107

    We made so much progress moving upstream behind Heritage Oaks Hospital on Saturday July 29th that we we will park in the back lot at Epic Bible College at our next cleanup !!!! We will continue to clean the dry creek channel and along the top of the banks, making our way upstream towards our next major destination – Pasadena Avenue (about .4 miles upstream). This progress is unprecedented!

    RCWA is so happy to continue partnering with Arcade Creek Adopt-A-Creek Project to continue cleaning Arcade Creek. We will be starting earlier due to the heat. Please bring lots of WATER and only do what you are comfortable doing. The creek is fairly dry making trash and debris easily accessible and visible. Rain boots might or sturdy shoes are nice to protect from sand and fox tails and long shirt/pants are ideal to protect from the sun and any scratches & scrapes.

    This event will range in difficulty from easy to difficult, with some pretty easy pickins’ around the flat grassy upper banks.
    RCWA will provide bags, but please bring along your sturdy footwear, grabbers, buckets and gloves – a limited number of loaner buckets and grabbers may be available. Recommended (but not required) boots or rain boots.

    As with all events shared by RCWA, participation is performed solely at your own risk. Please place safety FIRST and do only what you feel comfortable doing. Moreover, participants will be required to sign a Release and Waiver form if they have not done so previously.

    Overall, be safe, have fun and get some “Exercise with a Purpose” as Bill Templin always says!

    Thank you!💚

    River City Waterway Alliance

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  • American River Parkway | Clean Up Day
    08:00 -11:00
    08/12/2023

    28th and B Skate Park at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park

    Volunteer with Fleet Feet and earn a $25 in-store coupon!

    Join us as we work to keep our mile of the American River Parkway clean! As a mile steward, it is our job to ensure the parkway is safe for runners, walkers, and anyone else who uses the parkway!
    Last year, the American River Parkway Foundation removed nearly 160,000 lbs of trash. Volunteer with Fleet Feet, and give back to your community by being a part of something incredible.

    Snacks, beverages, and cleaning supplies provided! All you have to do is show up!

    (Ages: 14 & Up)

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  • American Rvr Cleanup @ Northrop w/ Wayne, 8/19/23
    09:00 -12:00
    08/19/2023

    This River City Waterway Alliance cleanup will be co-hosted by Wayne Watts, a long time American River Parkway hero. In fact, Wayne recently received a Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Kevin McCarty’s office for his amazing 37 years of dedicated stewardship to the parkway.

    Wayne needs help cleaning some of the trashiest areas of his adopted section. Much of the area was recently flooded and now there are many abandoned camps littering the area.

    This is a moderate level cleanup with plenty of easy areas nearby. RCWA will provide bags, but please bring along your sturdy footwear, grabbers, buckets, and gloves – a limited number of loaner buckets and grabbers may be available.

    As with all events shared on RCWA, participation is performed solely at your own risk. Please place safety FIRST and do only what you feel comfortable doing. Moreover, participants will be required to sign a Release and Waiver form if they have not done so previously.

    Overall, be safe, have fun and get some “Exercise with a Purpose”!

    Thank you!💚

    River City Waterway Alliance

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September
September
Man walking dog

Pet waste is a significant, yet preventable, water pollutant. Please clean up after your pet!

Not all bugs are bad! Learn how
good bugs can defend your home
against pests

Landscape and Nursery Expo

Businesses from all around participate in this annual event. Residents can learn various landscape techniques as well as purchase supplies, equipment, and attend educational seminars.

Tuesday, May 3

For More Information

Contact the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership at

ssqpinfo@cityofsacramento.org
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