Valley Water To Take Part In National River Cleanup

GILROY, CA — Put on those gloves and keep your eyes peeled. It's time for National River Cleanup Day hosted by the Santa Clara Valley Water District on Saturday at various waterways including Coyote, Ross, Calabazas creeks.

The cleanup slated from 9 a.m. to noon will bring out Valley Water Board Chairwoman Linda LeZotte and Directors Richard Santos and Barbara Keegan to join at least hundreds of volunteers expected. In 2018, more than 1,300 took part.

Each year, Valley Water teams up with partners and an army of volunteers to rid the valley's streams of trash and debris to protect wildlife and beautify the terrain. These creeks serve as tributaries that eventually flow out to San Francisco and Monterey bays.

Last year's cleanup net more than 47,000 pounds of trash and recycled materials over 64 miles of creeks and rivers. Some unusual items picked up were a full ham still in its package, a go-kart, Christmas tree, part of a windmill and the kitchen sink.

Visit the registration site to sign up and see the locations here.

Out of more than 800 miles of streams in Santa Clara County, Valley Water is responsible for over a third of the stream flows.