Andrew Kim Kawaoka, 70, prunes a tree during a River Stewards Program event on Wednesday at the San Lorenzo River. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

SANTA CRUZ >> With gloves and buckets, river ecologist Patrick Lopez and eight residents of a homeless shelter gathered along the San Lorenzo River on an overcast Wednesday morning. One participant shifted from foot to foot, eager to get started. Lopez began by describing which native and non-native plants they would be working with for the two-hour restoration event. 

It was part of the relaunch of the River Stewards program, where people living at the Armory/Overlook Emergency Shelter receive hands-on training in river restoration techniques, and receive a $20 gift card for their participation.

“It’s a really fun thing to do because you get to be outside, and you get to learn new things,” said Serena Thompson, who added that she couldn’t be happier about its relaunch and said she missed the program when it ended.

Before People First and the Coastal Watershed Council relaunched this program on June 24, it was led in partnership with the Downtown Streets Team. The original version of the program hosted more than 50 unhoused volunteers from 2022 to 2025. 

Amid the loss of several grants, including one from the County of Santa Cruz, the Downtown Streets Team shut down its operations in October 2025. A survey conducted during the final year of the program found that 48% of River Stewards volunteers eventually went on to gain employment and 37% gained housing after participating, according to a recent press release. 

The new iteration of River Stewards is funded by the California Coastal Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, and money from the county’s Measure Q, a voter-approved parcel tax.

Serena Thompson poses for a portrait while working at a weekly River Stewards volunteer day on the San Lorenzo River. Thompson, 55, participated in the program when the Downtown Streets Team was running it and missed attending after it was shut down in October 2025. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Up to eight shelter residents are shuttled to the river each Wednesday and work 9 a.m. to noon.

“Throughout the whole time that they’re working, I’m bouncing around to each of them, making sure that they are feeling supported and listened to. I really value cultivating those connections with them and listening to what’s going on in their lives,” said Lopez, who began working with the Coastal Watershed Council last month. “Some of them are actively looking for housing, and some of them are applying for jobs. Some of them are just happy to be out there, and it’s something that I really take a lot of pride in.”

Lopez guides volunteers through native seed collection, watering, mulching, trash cleanup and invasive species removal. He said so far, the group has removed 2,240 square feet of non-native plants, including Himalayan blackberry and Italian thistle, making room for native seeds that will be planted in the fall and winter.

Evan Morrison, Executive Director of People First, said the only requirements for participation is people must be in the Armory shelter and willing to work in a community environment. 

“Coastal Watershed Council provides a great deal of ecological education to the program participants,” Morrison said. “Engaging in this process helps them to build knowledge and work experience.”

From left, Serena Thompson, Patrick Lopez and Dustin Jones get ready to work during a River Stewards program event on the San Lorenzo River south of Soquel Avenue Bridge. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Lopez said he has heard positive feedback from the volunteers about how proud they are of the work they’re accomplishing.

“Some of the participants are learning identification tools that are helping them nourish themselves. Himalayan blackberry is a big non-native invasive plant that is delicious to eat, and the more seeds that we eat, the better it can be for the whole community and plant society,” Lopez said. “A lot of them wish that we could have the program for multiple days throughout the week, and I wish we can accommodate that. Maybe someday we’ll be able to.” 

Many of this year’s participants have volunteered with the previous iteration of the program. Another veteran participant, Andrew Kim Kawaoka, 70, has been living at the Armory for four years. When People First asked for volunteers, Kawaoka was eager to help tend the river. He has a background in landscaping and enjoys nature.

“The levee probably missed us. I think they’re happy we’re thinning out the plants and not letting one plant take over,” Kawaoka said. “They did an amazing job, because I don’t recognize the levee when I worked on it four years ago. None of this was here and now it’s getting the attention it needs.”

Miguel Ramirez volunteers with the River Stewards Program at the San Lorenzo River on Wednesday. During the event, participants were instructed on how to identify native and non-native plants before collecting all the non-native plants into a pile to throw away. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

Herbert Carter tosses a non-native mustard plant into the disposal pile. (Amaya Edwards — Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)

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