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01.23.25

Volunteers Making Waves at Trestles!

Trestles is more than just a beach—it’s a symbol of everything we love and work to protect. With its world-class waves, thriving ecosystems, and iconic surf culture, Trestles deserves the best we can give. That’s why we’ve teamed up with California State Parks and the San Onofre Parks Foundation to launch monthly beach and habitat restoration events, giving our community the chance to take action and protect what we love.

Our first-ever Trestles stewardship event on January 18, 2025, was a shining example of the impact we can make together.

The Numbers:
At our first event, 45 incredible volunteers

👉 Cleaned up 61.4 lbs of trash from the shoreline
👉 Removed 2600–3000 lbs of invasive ice plant from the dunes and surrounding habitat

Why is this so important? The invasive ice plant doesn’t just take up space—it outcompetes the native vegetation that Trestles’ ecosystems rely on. By removing it, we’re giving native plants a chance to flourish, which helps stabilize the dunes, supports wildlife, and makes the coastline more resilient to erosion, sea level rise, and extreme weather.

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Why Trestles? Trestles is a living, breathing ecosystem that supports a wide variety of unique and endangered plants and animals; it’s a sanctuary for surfers, hikers, and families alike; and it’s home to one of the last remaining unaltered creeks in California–the San Mateo Creek. But like many coastal areas, it’s under constant pressure from human impacts and environmental changes.

By focusing on supporting native habitats, we’re not just cleaning up—we’re making Trestles stronger for the challenges ahead. Healthy, native dunes are nature’s best defense against rising tides, and this restoration effort ensures that Trestles remains a vibrant, accessible, and ✨sandy✨ place for everyone to enjoy.

Want to learn more? Visit our Trestles Beach & Habitat Cleanup FAQ page!

Join Us at the Next Event!

We’re just getting started! These restoration events are happening monthly (outside of the summer months), and we’d love for you to be part of the next chapter in Trestles’ story.

Visit our volunteer page for details on upcoming events and registration information.

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1/18/2025 Trestles Beach & Habitat Cleanup Team