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Happy group of Green Snohomish volunteers after piling up all their trash finds for a photo.

Community Service

Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for a way to help out in your community? Green Snohomish offers volunteer opportunities with monthly work parties doing things like picking up trash, planting trees, maintaining restoration plantings, park cleanups, and helping residents in challenging situations with their yard maintenance.

Upcoming Events

Next cleanup event is TBD

We decide on our next work party at our regular monthly meetings. Check our Facebook page or website for updates, following the first Saturday of each month.

Recent Events

February 16th, 2025 – Interurban Trail Work Party

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out at our Pilchuck River Bridges trash cleanup event! We had 13 awesome volunteers and picked up 24 bags of trash. Luckily the rain held off for the most part, not bad for a March cleanup.

More Fun from the Past

February, 2025 – Interurban Trail Work Party

We had a wet, soggy morning cleaning up along the Snohomish Interurban Trail, but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. Many hands made quick work of all the small and large trash items. A lot of unwanted furniture was dragged out of the ditches. Thanks to everyone who came out to help. The city dumpster was pretty full afterwards.

January, 2025 – Centennial Trail Work Party

Despite the foggy weather, we had 20 volunteers turn out to help cleanup storm debris along the Centennial Trail in Snohomish. Thank you to everyone who braved the damp cold conditions. We filled the city dumpster, smashed it all down, and filled it some more! Only one bag of garbage was collected.

A young Green Snohomish volunteer going for the next load of wind damaged branches.
Green Snohomish volunteers took the opportunity for a group photo at the Centennial Trail work party.
Young Green Snohomish volunteer pushing wheelbarrow for next load of branches.
A full City of Snohomish dumpster that will be picked up by city crews.
September, 2024 – Old Snohomish Monroe Rd Bridge Litter Pickup

Snohomish is a bit cleaner on this day, thanks to our 5 volunteers who helped us fill 10 trash bags and dragged several large pieces of furniture out for pickup. It was a beautiful day today, so we appreciate you all spending some of your time helping us out.

Group of volunteers took the opportunity for a group photo with their pile of trash.
Trash pile, including some furniture.
Beautiful day on the Pilchuck River.
Making good on their volunteer opportunity, these two try to engineer a way to drag large trash items up to the roadway for pickup.
July 13th, 2024 – Dubuque Rd Bridge Litter Pickup

We had nine awesome volunteers collect 29 bags of garbage, plus a mattress and a tire. Thankfully, no incidents to report. Great crew and a great day! Thanks again to everyone.

During the summer there are many volunteer opportunities for cleaning up at the Dubuque Bridge. These volunteers took a group photo together.
Pile of trash ready to drag out to pickup site.
Trash pile ready for pickup.
Trash on the trail.

River Cleanups

We often focus our volunteer efforts on local Snohomish River and Pilchuck River riparian zones. A riparian zone is where land interfaces with water and this area performs many beneficial functions:

  • Reduces runoff pollutants
  • Reduces excessive sedimentation
  • Stabilizes stream banks and reduces floodwater velocity
  • Offers shelter and food for many aquatic animals
  • Shades water limiting temperature ranges in the water, which is critical for our salmon
  • Provides recreation opportunities and scenic beauty

Volunteer opportunities at cleanup events usually take place at 4 different areas that regularly suffer from trash pollution and abuse.

Map of Snohomish areas showing are regular volunteer cleanup sites.

Dubuque Road Bridge

Nice shot of the Pilchuck River below the Dubuque Bridge.
Before photo of trash on the trail.
Photo of the trail after the trash has been removed.
Happy group of volunteers with their trash loads.

During summer months, people enjoy accessing the Pilchuck River at this popular spot off Dubuque Road. Unfortunately, a lot of litter is left behind.

Old Snohomish Monroe Road Bridge

At times, this bridge becomes a shelter for unhoused people and there is often a lot of trash associated with those situations. We periodically cleanup at this site, but only remove obvious trash piles and leave structures if they have not been abandoned.

Lowell Snohomish River Road

This road is infamous for its illegal dumping issues and encampments. There is seemingly always trash to be cleaned up on this road. We hope our efforts, along with cleanup efforts from other groups as well, make some difference for the plants and animals that inhabit this area.

Saving Trees in Snohomish

Invasive ivy can slowly strangle a tree over time. We look for trees throughout Snohomish parks and other properties that are suffering from this condition. Cutting the stalks of ivy down below kills off the tendrils going farther up the tree and give the tree a chance to recover. This is an ongoing battle however, as the ivy is difficult to remove completely from the ground below.