With reusable items at the ready, volunteers of all ages make sure no more trash is left behind. Photo courtesy of Solano County Cleanup


DIXON, CA (MPG) - Solano County celebrated World Environment Day (WED) on June 7, with a cleanup and restoration event hosted by the Solano Resource Conservation District (RCD).

The festivities drew 154 dedicated volunteers to Lake Solano and Lake Berryessa, both vital drinking water sources for Solano County residents and crucial to the operations of local businesses such as Anheuser-Busch and Jelly Belly, as well as the county’s diverse agricultural sector.

This year’s World Environment Day theme was “Beat Plastic Pollution.” Volunteers collected nearly 200 pounds of trash and recyclables with an emphasis on removing as much plastic debris as possible to protect against microplastic formation and the serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and water quality this kind of debris presents. Volunteers also planted more than 300 native grass plugs to improve the ecological health of these critical watersheds.

Solano County celebrated World Environment Day (WED) on June 7, with a cleanup and restoration event hosted by the Solano Resource Conservation District (RCD). Photo courtesy of Solano County Cleanup

“We are thrilled with both the turnout and the impact our volunteers made this World Environment Day,” said Robyn Slater, Solano Resource Conservation District event coordinator. “They eagerly took on the job of removing every bit of plastic they could find. It's inspiring to watch collective action, even on a small scale, especially when those actions result in an immediate positive change for our environment and water resources.”

Jennifer Onufer, a parks manager from the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), which owns Lake Berryessa as part of the Solano Project, added, “The Bureau of Reclamation is committed to the responsible stewardship of our water resources. Events like this World Environment Day cleanup, driven by passionate community volunteers and organizations like Solano RCD, are important in protecting the health of our reservoirs and ensuring clean water for all users, from agriculture to urban centers and industry.”

This annual event underscores Solano Resource Conservation District’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and community involvement.

Solano County residents can also take part in caring for their environment on Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 20. That annual community workday will feature more than 50 cleanup sites across Solano County joining the efforts at thousand more cleanup sites worldwide.

Solano Resource Conservation District is a non-regulatory special district dedicated to assisting Solano County residents with the conservation of natural resources. The Resource Conservation District works on projects to restore Solano County watersheds, protect natural resources and provide effective, exciting outdoor environmental education. They build vibrant and diverse partnerships and educate children and adults about watershed science and effective stewardship.

This event is sponsored and supported by Solano County Water Agency, Anheuser-Busch in Fairfield, Solano Volunteers/CVNL, Solano County Parks, Putah Creek Council, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and MCE Energy. To learn more, visit cleanupsolano.org.