Restoring the Acacia canal: a volunteer-led project in San Diego

The Acacia canal has been used as an informal dump for years. This July, 80 neighbors turned up for a first cleanup, filling 192 bags in a single morning. Now we want to restore it for good. We have a plan agreed with the municipal water board, including native species selected by a local botanist. The area floods more each year, and fish have returned for the first time in a decade after our first cleanup. Restoring it will protect homes and bring back shade. All the labor is volunteered. We just need materials. We'll post planting day photos and a count of every sapling planted. Where the $1,900 goes: • Native saplings and stakes: $680 • Tools and protective gear: $230 • Waste removal and skip hire: $780 • Signage and educational materials: $210 I never thought I'd be the one asking, and I'm grateful for every bit of support.