California river cleanup makes a splash

To support their local waterways, the Santee Aggregates team recently organized a cleanup event along the San Diego River Basin.

To support their local waterways, the Santee Aggregates team recently organized a cleanup event along the San Diego River Basin.

During the half-day event held over Memorial Day weekend, a group of 14 Martin Marietta team members, along with family and friends, successfully removed more than 1,500 lbs of trash. The volunteers, representing various departments including Operations, HR, Sales, and Information Services, collected not only small litter but large debris, including shopping carts and tents.

“It was a humbling experience to do something positive for not just the environment, but for the community at large,” said Senior HR Manager Tracy Garcia, who attended the event with her daughter.
“Along with the great results and meaningful impact, it was also just amazing to be surrounded by our team members and their loved ones.”

The initiative was organized in partnership with the San Diego River Park Conservancy, an independent agency dedicated to preserving, restoring and enhancing the local river area. The group’s mission includes conserving land, protecting recreational spaces and open areas, supporting wildlife and habitat preservation, improving water quality, and fostering education about historical, cultural and tribal resources.

Working just one mile from the river cleanup site, Santee Plant Manager Cortes Macachor said he felt inspired to help organize the event as a demonstration of Martin Marietta’s commitment to stewardship.

“From an environmental standpoint, this was a great opportunity for us to make a meaningful contribution,” he said.
“We drew on the strength and dedication of our team members to collect hundreds of pounds of debris in just over four hours. We’re used to working hard with strong camaraderie and a team-first mindset, and I’m proud that we could apply that same spirit to helping our neighbors and protecting our waterways.”

Macachor said he is already considering how next year’s cleanup may unfold and anticipating how the event may evolve and grow into a recurring tradition.