Blog

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. What if we told you that you can have a healthy garden without the excessive use of pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers? When gardening, practicing the 4 S’s will help you achieve the garden of your dreams in no time.  The 4 S’s are:  SELECT - When you want to get rid of pests and pump up the quality of your soil always SELECT the least toxic option. You will be surprised…Read more →

California is experiencing a historic drought, and we are all being asked to make sacrifices to save water. Watering our grass has been one of those sacrifices Californians have been asked to participate in. But did you know there are plants native to California that do not require much water to survive? Having plants native to your environment is the best way to keep a beautiful garden and adhere to the drought rules. Local plant species are characterized as being…Read more →

Did you know that rainwater and irrigation runoff travels over land and picks up what we’ve left behind? This means that pollutants such as trash, pet waste and fertilizers can end up polluting our watersheds if we are not careful. We have three watersheds to protect here in Riverside County: Santa Ana, Santa Margarita and Whitewater River. When rainwater and irrigation travel through the streets picking up pollutants, it ends up draining the polluted stormwater into our rivers. This means…Read more →

Help us keep our watersheds clean! Overwatering your lawn may cause pollutants left behind to end up in our watersheds. Pollutants end in watersheds when irrigation travels over land and picks up any trash we’ve left behind, therefore it is very important to always pick up any litter we see.  Here are some helpful tips to help you not overwater:  Choose to broom your driveway instead of hosing it down Reduce your wasteUse non-toxic alternatives for pest management Set sprinklers to water…Read more →

RivCoParks has three family-friendly nature centers designed to help us understand and appreciate our unique ecosystems. The three nature centers are Hidden Valley, Santa Rosa Plateau and Idyllwild Nature Center.  Hidden Valley Nature Center is located in Riverside, has over 1,500-acre wildlife area, 25 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, nature camps/summer day camps and scout programs. To learn more about Hidden Valley Nature Center, click here. Santa Rosa Plateau is located in Murrieta, and is a 9,000-acre ecological reserve.…Read more →

Did you know there are more than 80 bird species that call Lake Skinner home? Well, if you are an avid birdwatcher, Lake Skinner is the place to be this summer. The RivCo Parks website provides a well-detailed Birding 101 guide to help you find the birds easier and if you are lucky, you might just spot a Bald Eagle!  Located in the rolling hills of Winchester, CA, the Lake Skinner Recreation area has more to offer than bird watching.…Read more →

Hi neighbor, we hope you are enjoying your pool this summer! We want to make sure you are keeping your pool cool and stormwater-friendly all summer long. Here are three tips: Pool Discharge: While many pools are designed to drain directly into the sanitary sewer, you should always check with your plumber or pool maintenance provider to make sure your pool is discharging properly. Proper Drainage: Check with your local jurisdiction for proper pool drainage. For Riverside pool drainage check…Read more →

With summer in full swing, has your child found an interest in becoming an equestrian? If your family is new to the equestrian world, there are a few things to know about horse management and its effect on our environment. For example, did you know horse waste is organic, but it can contain harmful elements like sediment, phosphorus, bacteria and viruses? Before taking the on the responsibility of a horse, here are some best practices for horse care taking: Collect…Read more →

There are a million reasons why dads are awesome, and we could spend forever debating about who has the best dad. If you’re considering what to get for the father figure in your life this Father’s Day, consider picking an eco-friendly Father’s Day gift. Here are some of our favorites: Reusable coffee mug: A reusable coffee mug is the perfect gift for busy mornings when dad can’t enjoy his coffee at home and has to take it to go. Bonus…Read more →

County Watershed Protection Program is a partnership between Riverside County, the Flood Control & Water Conservation District, Coachella Valley Water District and 27 cities that manage watershed programs. Together we strive to protect and enhance the quality of the water and the natural environment of our watersheds. By maintaining our watersheds clean and healthy we are actively improving the life of the people, flora and fauna who share the watershed. Here are some ways our watershed monitoring program works: Identifying…Read more →