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.
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
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
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
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
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Mercury
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Pesticides
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Pet Waste
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Trash
Events Calendar
- 21April 21, 2024
RCWA - Arcade Creek Collaborative Cleanup @ DPRP
[Meeting Spot is Harry Renfree Baseball Field at the Corner of Auburn Blvd and Bridge Road]In furtherance of our commitment to Earth Day 2024, RCWA is partnering with Arcade Creek Adopt-A-Creek Project, Arcadis U.S. and the City of Sacramento to clean Arcade Creek through Del Paso Regional Park.Having completed the heavy cleaning of this beautiful one mile stretch of Arcade Creek over the past couple of years, we’re gonna perform a post-rain “maintenance mode” cleanup to grab new trash washed downstream over the winter. This area is full of natural filters that have stopped a substantial amount of trash from being swept downstream and into the Delta and beyond. But that leaves a lot of cleanup work to rid this beautiful park of the resulting debris fields of trash.This event will range in difficulty from easy to difficult, with some easy pickins’ around the flat grassy parkway. We anticipate there will be water in the channel. Depending on the depth, hip or chest waders may be required to enter the creek.RCWA will provide bags, but please bring along your sturdy, waterproof footwear, grabbers, buckets and gloves – a limited number of loaner buckets and grabbers may be available. Recommended (but not required): rain boots or waders – there is water in the creek, though it can be avoided if you choose not to enter the channel.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
https://www.facebook.com/rivercitywaterwayallianceArcade Creek Adopt-A-Creek Project
https://www.facebook.com/ArcadeCreekAACP
Elk Grove Anti-Trash - Elk Grove Creek Laguna Springs to N. Longleaf Basin
A very special Earth Day event with our friends from Starbucks.
Join us as we tackle Elk Grove Creek, Trail, and basins from east of Laguna Springs all the way to the basin next to Leatherby‘s.
We are grateful for our friends at the Starbucks in the target shopping center. Evona, the store manager, has rallied many of the area managers to join this cleanup. It will require boots, patience and perseverance since we will be working in grass, mud, and maybe water.Elk Grove is worth the work!
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!Sacramento Earth Day
Sacramento Earth Day is the largest Earth Day celebration in the Sacramento region. Join us on April 21, 2024 at Southside Park in Sacramento, for a free, family-friendly event, with opportunities to learn and network about sustainability. We will have over 100 exhibitors and vendors, and hundreds of attendees.
- 22April 22, 2024
Citrus Heights Community Center Cleanup
Volunteers will help provide drought-friendly solutions at the Community Center by spreading bark, filling sandbags and planting three crepe myrtle trees.
- 23April 23, 2024
ARPF - Trail Maintenance Tuesday
LOCATION: El Manto River AccessDetails:
We’re whipping the Parkway into shape and need your help!
Join us for a morning of Trail Taming on the Parkway! We’ll wield clippers, wrangle branches, and rake our way to a beautiful trail for all to enjoy.Here’s what awaits:
Trim back those sneaky, low-hanging limbs
Wrestle fallen branches to the ground (don’t worry, we’ll work together!)
Tame the tall grass with a satisfying weed-whack
Rake the equestrian/hiking trail for a smooth ride (or walk!)
The Adventure Begins at Sunrise Recreation Area!
Assemble: Arrive before 8:45 am to sign in and grab a safety briefing. We’ll be off by 9:00 am!**We’ll provide the tools and snacks. All you need to bring is your enthusiasm and love for the outdoors! ** ALL AGES WELCOME **
Can’t wait to see you there! Become a Trail Hero! - 24April 24, 2024
RCWA - Arcade Creek @ Norwood (12.0) with ARFCD
Our apologies, but this will be an 18 and Over Event due to numerous active encampments in the area.We will continue removing the piles of trash in this stretch of Arcade Creek in this area. This event will be conducted in coordination with the folks at American River Flood Control District who have graciously agreed to haul off all of the trash and encampment debris collected during this event!Sturdy, waterproof boots, long sleeves and long pants are recommended. Folks desiring to enter the creek will need hip or chest waders. This will be an easy to difficult level event with uneven terrain.RCWA will provide bags, but please bring along your grabbers, buckets, cultivators, rakes 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”Instagram @RiverCityWaterwayAllianceLink to Events:
https://www.facebook.com/rivercitywaterwayalliance/eventsLink to YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@rivercitywaterwayalliance4646 - 25April 25, 2024
ARPF - Invasive Plant Patrol Meet Up
Ready to tackle those pesky weeds? Join our Invasive Plant Patrol on April 25th, and let’s show those invaders who’s boss! We’ll be pulling Spanish and French Broom so grab your friends, coworkers, and family, and let’s pull together for a day of environmental stewardship on the Parkway!
- 26April 26, 2024
RCWA - Ali's Friday Arcade Crk Cleanup
This series of cleanups are being made possible by a Watershed Stewardship and Education Grant awarded by the Sacramento County Stormwater Quality Program. We would like to sincerely thank the County for funds needed to keep our volunteers properly equipped.We will continue to partner with Arcade Creek – Adopt A Creek Project to focus on another infamously trashed stretch of this 16.2 mile creek. We will meet at the same apartment complex, and will continue to work downstream towards Keoncrest Circle where we performed numerous cleanups last year.We will park in the SOUTHERN most parking lot in the Hidden Oaks Apartment Complex, gear up, and walk to Arcade Creek. Please arrive on time as the complex is fairly expansive and the route to our meeting spot could be confusing.Please bring water and only do what you are comfortable doing. As always, you can leave whenever you want or need.This cleanup will have some challenging access spots into the creek and may require a rope to get into the channel, however, there are some flat spots as well for easy pickin’.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 WATERPROOF footwear, grabbers, buckets, and gloves – a limited number of loaner buckets and grabbers may be available. There will be water in the creek, fairly deep in a few spots. Participants will be required to wear rain boots or waders if they intend to get into the water. The water is quite chilly this time of year. 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
https://www.facebook.com/ArcadeCreekAACPRiver City Waterway Alliance
https://www.facebook.com/rivercitywaterwayalliance - 27April 27, 2024
RCWA - Magpie Creek @ McClellan AFB
We are really excited about this event and about co-hosting with another great waterway group, the Dry Creek Conservancy.VOLUNTEERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 at the Groundwater Treatment Plant on 4934 Patrol Road for a safety briefing. Work begins at 9:00 AM and concludes at noon. Afterwards, the Air Force will provide a free barbecue lunch back at the staging area. The McClellan cleanup team will share insights about the operation of their new plant and ongoing cleanup efforts.There will be other volunteers in other areas, but we Badgers will work on a nice 1500-ft reach of Magpie Creek in a very pretty nature preserve area. Willows line the banks and the water is clear. There are several beaver dams nearby. The terrain is flat and easily walkable. The creek is in fairly good condition with only moderate trash; no camps, no shopping carts, mattresses or tires (yayy!). Part of our crew will start by cleaning a trash rack while others will wade the creek towing the Minnow, removing trash from the bank and bed. The haul up the 6-foot bank is easy. We will not have to dispose of the trash.Bring your usual cleanup gear including waders as most of our work will be in the water. Don’t forget to bring drinking water, sunscreen, gloves, hat, and a sense of humor.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.
ssqpinfo@cityofsacramento.org