.JPG?n=2954 "Palo Alto Creek Cleanup Volunteers")
In support of the 25th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 19, the Creek Connections Action Group coordinated the largest Santa Clara County turnout in the history of the event!
In one morning, 1,486 volunteers at various locations with trash bags in hand picked up trash and recyclables from San Francisquito Creek in Palo Alto to Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy to help beautify approximately 59 miles of streams and waterways. Volunteers collected 23,173 pounds of trash and removed 7,499 pounds of recyclable materials from 35 sites along local waterways. Unusual items found this year included:
- a metal patio rocking chair
- car seats and strollers
- Playschool desk and refrigerator
- kid’s backpack (with homework in it)
- couches
- an arrow
- propane tanks
- BBQ grill
- humidifier
- muffler
- car transmission
- fire hydrant
- rubber snake
- hula-hoop
- two strollers
- Spiderman mask
- bowling ball
- snow sled
- and a boomerang
Over the last 14 years, the Santa Clara Valley Water District has partnered with the Creek Connections Action Group to clean trash and debris form stretches of creeks throughout Santa Clara County. Each year there are two events, Coastal Cleanup Day in September and National River Cleanup Day in May.
Removing trash from creeks protects water quality, and habitat for plants and animals that live in the creek. In addition, removing debris and litter can prevent pollution from flowing down the creeks to San Francisco and Monterey bays. It is estimated that 60 to 80 percent of the debris found along California’s coastline originates from inland or urban areas.
For further information, please contact Kate Slama at (408) 265-2600, ext. 2739.