Are you interested in helping to clean up and restore the natural environment located within the Whittier Narrows - San Gabriel Dam Basin in South El Monte, California? If yes, we'd appreciate your help in celebrating our stewardship of the land and water during our annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD) event.

This year's NPLD "Our Home Outdoors" event will be hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Los Angeles District (who own the land) in conjunction with the County of Los Angeles – Parks & Recreation (who manage a large portion of the land) within the Whittier Narrows Dam Basin. Our primary goal will be to remove litter/debris from the San Gabriel River area upstream of the Whittier Narrows – San Gabriel Dam. Our secondary goal will be to support the Corps’ Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Project (DSMP) environmental commitments. Volunteers will be removing non-native plants from the habitat restoration area (about 50 acres) to help native plants regrow. In addition to weeding, volunteers may be asked to help with sweeping, picking up litter, bagging leaves, raking, or repainting park benches. If the weeding group finishes early, they will be re-routed to assist with the litter/debris removal portion of the event.

For both groups of volunteers, parking and registration will take place between 7:00am-8:00am. Work will take place from 8:00am-12:00pm. Afterwards, everyone is welcome to stay and eat your own lunch (we’re currently talking with potential sponsors to donate free lunches) at one of the Whittier Narrows Nature Center (WNNC) picnic tables and then explore the nature trails, participate in some fun activities, and browse through some partner organization’s booths.

For the Litter/Debris Removal: 

Meet at the Legg Lake Park parking area at 555 Durfee Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733 for parking and registration. Walk across the street (or take a shuttle) to the staging location upstream of the San Gabriel Dam along the San Gabriel River Bike Path. Port-a-potties, a handwash station under a canopy, water, and a snack will be provided. Sunscreen, a hat, lightweight pants, closed toe shoes, and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt are recommended. Tools, gloves, and PPE will be provided.

For the Non-Native Plant Removal+:

Meet at the Whittier Narrows Nature Center located at 1000 Durfee Avenue across the street from South El Monte High School in South El Monte, CA for parking and registration. (We’re waiting to hear if we can also park at the high school.) Port-a-potties, a handwash station, water, and a snack will be provided. Sunscreen, a hat, lightweight pants, closed toe shoes, and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt are recommended. Tools, gloves, and PPE will be provided; however, you are more than welcome to bring your own weeding tools and gardening gloves, so that we have enough.

Registration is a 2-step process:

1. Please sign up for the event through volunteer.gov. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email with further information on where and when to park and register for the event, as well as the location of the event.
2. Everyone will also be required to complete a Volunteer Service Agreement (VSA) form which needs to be turned in at registration. NOTE: You may download the VSA form at https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/OF301A-21.pdf and complete #1-19 and #39-40 [Minors under the age of 18 will also need a parent/guardian to complete #28-38] prior to arriving OR we will have blank copies available at the check in area the morning of the event. [These forms typically take about 10 minutes to complete.]