Neighbors Answer the Call: The Earth Day Confluence Cleanup Returns in 2026
A neighboring stewardship group put volunteers to work clearing invasive scotch broom and litter from Confluence-area trails last Earth Day, and the effort is set to return in 2026.
American River Canyon Alliance
The American River canyons stay healthy because people show up for them. Last spring, a group of neighbors did exactly that.
Protect American River Canyons (PARC) reports that its 2025 Earth Day celebration sent volunteers into select Confluence-area trailheads for a morning of hands-on stewardship. The logistics came together through a State Parks Foundation grant and an in-kind donation from the City of Auburn, which together made it possible to shuttle volunteers to the work sites.
Once on the ground, the crews got to it. They pruned and pulled invasive scotch broom, the fast-spreading shrub that crowds out native plants along these slopes. They also cleared litter from the trail corridors. When the work wrapped, lunch was provided by Auburn Alehouse.
Scotch broom removal is patient, unglamorous work. Pull it one year and it tries to return the next. That is why steady hands and repeat visits matter so much to the long-term health of the canyon.
The good news for anyone who missed it: the effort is coming back. According to PARC's December 2025 newsletter, the organization has announced a 2026 Earth Day cleanup, again set for a Saturday.
We are glad to see this kind of care for the shared landscape we all love. If you want to lend a hand next spring, watch PARC's channels for details and consider joining in.
Cover photo: Shannon1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.