Thousands Expected To Participate In California Coastal Cleanup Day

This Saturday is "California Coastal Cleanup Day," volunteers will fan out across the state to clean up ocean beaches, rivers, and waterways.

Last year, almost 60,000 volunteers collected 750,000 pounds of trash from the ocean to mountain streams in California on a single day.

In San Joaquin County this year, volunteers will be cleaning up Lodi Lake, the Calaveras River, and the San Joaquin River.

Cleanup Coordinator Cynthia Madrid says the cleanup runs from 9 a.m. to Noon, but tons of trash will be picked up in that short time.

"Last year over 1,000 participants cleared five tons of trash and debris from our local waterways."

Madrid says the trash included everything from couches to shopping carts and cigarette butts to drinking straws.

And she says anyone is welcome to volunteer.

"We ask everyone to wear long pants because you will be walking up and down the levee areas, we ask you to wear closed toe shoes. If you'd like to go green, bring your own garden gloves."

For volunteers the rewards are satisfaction for a job well, a free T-shirt and a coupon for a taco.