Earth With Us: The Great LA River CleanUp At Willow Street Estuary

About the Site

Join FoLAR in the Lower River to collect trash and prevent waste from polluting our watershed and flowing into the Pacific Ocean. Together, we’ll make a collective impact and do our part to tend to the vibrant urban ecosystems that thrive throughout our region.

After flowing for 20 plus miles in a completely concrete channel from Downtown through the Gateway Cities, the Willow Street Estuary in Long Beach is the beginning of the last natural bottom stretch of the River. Just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, freshwater mixes with saltwater here, supporting a unique ecological habitat and a wide variety of shorebirds.

CleanUp supplies (work gloves and trash bags), hand sanitizer, and a water station are provided. The River has a steep bank here, so we’ll have ropes onsite to help guide you down into the channel. FoLAR’s LA River Rover will make an appearance at this site so be sure to stop in for a visit!

What to Wear & Bring

There are areas of this site where you may need to wade into the water in order to access the island that we’ll be cleaning, so wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes you don’t mind getting wet, or boots or water shoes if you have them. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen and a hat. We’re providing cleanup supplies, so all you need to bring is a reusable water bottle – we’ll have ice water available onsite.