Volunteer at Olympia Watershed: Help Restore the Zayante Sandhills
Spend a Saturday morning outdoors, get your hands dirty, and see a part of the Santa Cruz Mountains most people never get to explore. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is inviting volunteers to help remove invasive French broom from its Olympia Watershed property in Felton, with the next workday on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9 am to 12 pm.
No experience is needed. Training is provided, and volunteers of all backgrounds are welcome.
A rare landscape in our backyard
The Olympia Watershed is a 180-acre property owned and managed by the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. It protects part of the Zayante Sandhills, an ecosystem found almost nowhere else on Earth.
Its sandy soils support native plants like silver bush lupine and California goldfields, along with rare and endangered species that depend on this open, sunny habitat. The property also has a moderate trail system of about 1.1 miles.
What you’ll do
French broom is an aggressive invasive shrub that crowds out native plants and adds fuel to the landscape. Volunteers pull it by hand or with tools, then carry tarps of cleared weeds out of the work area. Along the way, district staff share what makes the property’s native plants and animals so unique.
Every plant removed helps:
- Protect habitat for rare and endangered species
- Improve watershed health for the community’s water supply
- Reduce wildfire risk by clearing fuel
- Support recreation on the property
There’s a bonus, too. Workdays usually take place in areas closed to the public, so volunteering gives you rare access to parts of the watershed you can’t otherwise visit.
Olympia Watershed Map by Ben Peese
Upcoming workdays
All events run on Saturdays from 9 am to 12 pm.
| Date | Registration |
|---|---|
| November 14, 2026 | Register on Eventbrite |
| December 12, 2026 | Opens about a month before |
| January 9, 2027 | Opens about a month before |
| February 13, 2027 | Opens about a month before |
| March 13, 2027 | Opens about a month before |
Space is limited, so reserve a spot for each participant. Youth must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by an adult.
A volunteer waiver is required once. Complete it online using the link sent after you register, or arrive 15 minutes early to fill out a paper copy.
Know before you go
Where: Enter from the northern end of the Zayante Fire Department parking lot, 7700 E Zayante Rd, Felton, CA 95018.
Check-in: At the Olympia Watershed property sign by the entrance gate.
Parking: A few spots in the lot, with more along the road.
The work: Expect uneven terrain, hiking up to a mile, pulling weeds by hand or with tools, and carrying tarps of weeds.
What to bring:
- Weather-appropriate clothes, with sun and/or rain protection
- Comfortable hiking shoes
- A reusable water bottle, filled
- Gardening gloves
- Anything else you need to work outdoors
Weather: If extreme weather is expected, registered volunteers will get an email by 4:30 pm the day before.
Ready to pitch in? Sign up for November 14 and help keep the Zayante Sandhills wild.
Have an event or outdoor activity to share? The San Lorenzo Valley Post welcomes your Santa Cruz Mountains news, story ideas, and photos. Send us an email.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay connected to news and events in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The San Lorenzo Valley Post is your essential guide to life in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We're dedicated to delivering the latest news, events, and stories that matter to our community. From local government to schools, from environmental issues to the arts, we're committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased coverage. We believe in the power of community journalism and strive to be a platform for diverse voices.
