Pasadena Volunteers Clean Arroyo Seco for Ocean Health

When Pasadena volunteers gather along the Arroyo Seco this Saturday morning, they'll be part of something much bigger than a local cleanup. Their work will help protect ocean waters more than 20 miles away, stopping pollution before it flows downstream through the city's storm drains.

The event is part of California's 42nd annual Coastal Cleanup Day, which expects more than 50,000 volunteers across the state. Pasadena's three-hour cleanup runs from 9 a.m. to noon at 360 N. Arroyo Blvd., with Heal the Bay coordinating efforts at more than 60 Los Angeles County sites.

The city's Public Works Department is encouraging residents to join the effort, which directly supports Pasadena's year-round stormwater protection program. Every piece of trash removed is one less item flowing through storm drains into local waterways and eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean.

Volunteers will do more than just pick up litter. They'll record the types of trash they collect, creating valuable data that helps identify pollution sources and improve prevention strategies across the state.

Anyone can participate, though volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign a liability waiver. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult throughout the cleanup. All supplies and waivers will be available on-site for those who need them.

The Ripple Effect

This community cleanup demonstrates how inland cities play a crucial role in ocean conservation. Pasadena sits miles from the coast, yet its storm drain system connects directly to waterways that feed into the Pacific.

California Coastal Commission Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge calls the day "an important reminder that we all need to show up to protect our coast." That protection starts in neighborhoods, parks, and urban waterways where everyday trash becomes tomorrow's ocean pollution.

The cleanup also fulfills Pasadena's responsibilities under its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit, making public participation a key part of the city's environmental commitments. When residents show up with gloves and trash bags, they're helping their city meet important water quality goals while protecting marine ecosystems.

By investing just three hours on a Saturday morning, Pasadena volunteers join tens of thousands of Californians proving that ocean protection is everyone's responsibility, no matter how far from the beach you live.