The Santa Clara Valley Water District invites the community to
help clean creeks and local waterways. Be a part of the 26th annual
California Coastal Cleanup Day held from 9 a.m. to noon Sept.
25.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District invites the community to help clean creeks and local waterways. Be a part of the 26th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day held from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 25.
With 43 sites on 22 different creeks and reservoirs, more than 80, 000 volunteers are expected to participate in the Coastal Cleanup Day this year.
“When people go out to pick up trash in a creek and see how much is out there, they become lifelong advocates for pollution prevention,” said Richard P. Santos, chair of the water district’s board of directors.
For the past quarter century, Coastal Cleanup Day has become a chance for Californians to join others in expressing their respect for our oceans and waterways.
Last year, CCD set a new record of volunteers, 80,622, and collected almost 1.4 million pounds of trash and recyclables throughout the state.
“Covering 2,400 miles of coast and inland shoreline in 52 counties, the 2009 cleanup also had the largest geographic reach ever achieved,” said Marty Grimes, spokesman for the water district. “In Santa Clara County, 1,486 volunteers collected 23,173 pounds of trash and 7,499 pounds of recyclable materials.”
Grimes also said that locally they focus the majority of their efforts on creeks and rivers because all the trash that ends up in creeks eventually ends up in the ocean.
For those who wants to give a hand to California’s shoreline must check www.cleanacreek.org and find a map of local cleanup sites and complete the pre-registration form.
Youth younger than 18 must have a parent or guardian signature on a Waiver of Liability form and will also need adult supervision for the entire event.
“Already a hundred volunteers have registered. Individuals, clubs and classes are welcome to volunteer, as well as those looking to fulfill community service requirements,” Grimes said.
Volunteers can bring their own bucket or reusable bag and gloves from home to support the 2010 Bring Your Own for Coastal Cleanup Day) initiative. First-aid supplies, water and refreshments will be provided at no cost.
California Coastal Cleanup Day was first organized in 1985 by the California Coastal Commission, and over 800,000 Californians have removed more than 14 million pounds of debris from our state’s shorelines and coast.
Another environment events, the Great American Litter Cleanup Day will be held on March 19, 2011 and National River Cleanup Day is schedule on the third Saturday of May.
