A group of ForestWatch volunteers ventured out into Santa Paula Canyon on Saturday, October 6 to remove trash revealed by the Thomas Fire last December. Along the 8-mile hike, the group collected 150 pounds of trash, including 30 pounds of recyclables.
The weather was perfect for the long hike to the first main swimming hole and waterfall, often referred to as one of the “Punch Bowls,” near Big Cone Camp. Interestingly, there is technically only one Punch Bowl, which is a beautiful pool along Santa Paula Creek near Cross Camp, but over the years, Santa Paula Canyon enthusiasts have given both of the swimming holes the popular moniker.
Laurel sumac and other chaparral species resprouting and coming up by seed in Santa Paula Canyon 10 months after the Thomas Fire.
Our volunteer group first hiked to Big Cone Camp — where they cleaned up several pounds of broken beer bottles and other trash — and then a short distance farther to the swimming hole. This pool is often as far as hikers venture into the canyon, especially when the waterfall is flowing as it was on Saturday. Unfortunately, this means a lot of trash tends to accumulate around the pool.
Throughout the hike, the group also learned about the unique plants vigorously regrowing after the Thomas Fire. The trail was lined with surprisingly tall laurel sumac, mountain mahogany, and scrub oak shrubs. We also saw some interesting fire followers such as the rash-inducing poodle-dog bush.
Waterfall and pool often referred to as one of the “Punch Bowls” in Santa Paula Canyon.
After removing the immense amount of trash near the waterfall and along the creek, some of the volunteers enjoyed a short swim in beautiful pool. For many, this was their first time in the canyon. The group was then able to pack the several bags of collected glass, cans, food containers, old towels, and broken cookware out of the canyon.
The group’s four-legged companion and part-time ForestWatch mascot did not assist with hauling out the trash, but she did take on the tough task of accepting pets and treats throughout the hike. After much consideration, we decided to invite her back for our next cleanup at Cannon Creek.
Thank you to the incredible volunteers who spent their day hiking and removing trash from this special place. If you’d like to become a volunteer, please sign up for our volunteer email list to find out about upcoming projects each month. You can also visit our projects webpage to learn more about what we’re doing and how to get involved.
Check out more photos from the cleanup below:
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