Our Story

Background

Operation 9-2-99 focuses on the restoration and rehabilitation of the area along the Tuolumne River in Modesto and promoting recreation opportunities. The name corresponds with the areas that are being targeted, specifically east of the 9th Street Bridge to the west of Highway 99. This area has traditionally been a neglected and abused area in the city of Modesto. The dumping of trash, shopping carts, tires, and the creation of encampments took a negative toll on the natural habitat of the river, creating a blighted area in our community, and compromised the parks that line the river, including the 500+ acres of Tuolumne River Regional Park. It is important that we fight to protect these community amenities. To combat this, Operation 9-2-99 meets every second Saturday of the month to clean a section of the river and the surrounding park areas.

Operation 9-2-99 is not a stand alone non-profit but operated under the umbrella of Modesto Neighborhood Inc. and Modesto Outdoor Recreation Alliance which both have non-profit status.

Coordinator - Chris Guptill

Chris Guptill is a high school techer in Modesto, California. He graduated from Humbold State University. Operation 9-2-99 started in 2014 with a small group paddle down the river to evaluate the blighted areas. From that trip plans were made to clean it up and help realize the potential of developing recreation area along the river. Chris has received support from multiple organizations to help the community and invites anyone to participate.

Mission

To reclaim, rehabilitate, and restore the area along the Tuolumne River in Modesto from the 9th Street Bridge to Highway 99 by removing trash, tires, shopping carts, and abandoned camps in order to return this blighted area to a public space and riparian river habitat that the community can be proud of and can safely recreate in.

Vision

Create a process whereby the resources of government agencies can be utilized by individuals, businesses, and community groups to effectively remove the debris that has accumulated along the Tuolumne River in Modesto
Restore both the natural habitat along the river and the Tuolumne River’s value to the community as a whole
Build partnerships between businesses, community groups, and government agencies to continue to protect this area from returning to its previous unacceptable state and develop much needed recreation opportunities and an Adopt-A-River Program

Statistics

Check our the statistics from the past 9 years.

Operation 9-2-99 Running Totals

Long Term Solution

The only proven solution that we have found to prevent the return of blight to the areas along our rivers and parks is to get people to use them responsibly instead of abusing them. We need crime-free, drug-free, and blight-free recreational opportunities on and alongside the Tuolumne River, in places such as Dry Creek and the Tuolumne River Regional Park. Hiking, biking, and paddling are some of the positive activities that will help keep our parks and waterways clean and open to recreation. This is needed to ensure that people can be connected with the valuable local resources that can be found right in their backyard.

Videos Created by Tuolumne River Trust

Tuolumne River Trust interviews Chris Guptill on starting Operation 9-2-99

Part 1

Part 2 Contacts

Lieutenant Phil McKay - Department of Fish and Wildlife
Chris Cahill - Department of Fish and Wildlife
Lieutenant Kelly Scott - Southeast Area Commander MPD
Officer John Wohler - MPD
Adam Christianson - Stanislaus County Sheriff
Sergeant Marc Nuno - Sheriff’s Department
Dick Monteith - Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors
Vito Chiesa - Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors
City Councilman Tony Madrigal
City Councilman John Gunderson
City Councilwoman Jenny Kenoyer
Todd Rocha - Modesto City Parks Department
Loren Holt - Manager City Parks Planning Department

Duane Becker - Environmental Services Supervisor City of Modesto
Vicki Rice - City of Modesto Recycling Program Coordinator
Brian Gini - Manager, Collins Electrical Company
Rick Applegate - MPD
Stan Risen - CEO Stanislaus County
Chris Brady - County Public Works Department
Del Ambris - General Manager Cost Less Foods
Chuck O’Brien - O’Brien’s Market
Phil McKay - Retired Fish and Wildfire Captain
City of Modesto Wastewater Treatment Division
Tuolumne River Trust
Dry Creek Trails Coalition
Modesto Outdoor Recreation Alliance
High School and College Community Service Groups
California Conservation Corps
Modesto Gospel Mission
Team Rubicon

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