Freedom 250 volunteers celebrate Earth Day through stewardship at Fortuna Pond near Yuma

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, volunteers embrace the spirit of public service by celebrating Earth Day with a hands-on clean-up event at Fortuna Pond on the morning April 25, 2026.

The event, organized by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Yuma Field Office, brought together community volunteers, BLM staff and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) staff to remove trash and debris from the pond and surrounding recreation area. The event was part of the Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide effort encouraging Americans to give back to public lands through volunteer service. Behind both Earth Day and the Freedom 250 initiative reflects a bigger principle: public lands belong to everyone, and their care is a shared responsibility.

Fortuna Pond is managed as a coordinated management area through a partnership between the BLM, Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), and AZGFD, making cooperative stewardship efforts an important part of maintaining the site. The location is popular destination often frequented by anglers, birdwatchers, and families. Ongoing maintenance ensures both its accessibility and the preservation of its environmental quality. With this event, volunteers demonstrate how small, coordinated efforts can produce meaningful results on the ground.

By the end of the morning, the team had completely filled a trash dumpster and removed large, discarded items, including a dumped refrigerator. BLM and AZGFD each also hauled a trailer load of collected trash to the Yuma County Transfer Station. The effort directly supports habitat health, improves visitor experience, and reinforces the long-term stewardship of public lands.

Volunteers play an essential role in supporting the BLM’s mission, providing the time and commitment that sustain on‑the‑ground improvements across public lands while staff offer planning, coordination, and technical expertise.

“Projects like this show what can be accomplished when communities and public land managers work side by side,” said Yuma Field Manager, Ray Castro. “The dedication of our volunteers makes a lasting difference, not just in improving the condition of sites like Fortuna Pond, but in strengthening the shared responsibility we all have to care for our public lands.”

The cleanup was coordinated by Outdoor Recreation Planner Danny Pollard, with support from Yuma Field Office staff and Colorado River District personnel, including Wildlife Biologist Daniel Rigby, Park Ranger Ben Florey, Geographic Information Systems Specialist Evelia “Evie” Castro Marroquin, and Yuma Field Manager Ray Castro.

Events like this not only improve individual sites but also strengthen the connection between communities and the lands they use. At Fortuna Pond, that connection was strengthened with every bag of collected debris and every hour volunteered — a reminder that stewardship is most effective when it is shared. 

This year as our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, everyone is encouraged to deepen their commitment to one of nation’s longest traditions – volunteerism. As part of the Department of Interior’s Freedom 250 initiative, volunteers who contribute 250 hours of service and track it at Volunteer.gov qualify for a yearlong America the Beautiful volunteer pass, which gives them free access to our nation’s federal parks, lands, and waters. To find volunteer opportunities near you with Federal land management agencies like the BLM, visit Volunteer.gov for more information.