Coastal Cleanup focuses on Valley creeks

Sonoma Ecology Center, in partnership with Sonoma County Regional Parks, Whole Foods, The Fairmont, Basque Boulangerie Cafe, and Starbucks will facilitate a California Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Volunteers are invited to support this statewide initiative by joining the Sonoma Ecology Center in one of several creek cleanups from 9 a.m. to noon.

The cleanups will take place in four Sonoma locations: Maxwell Farms Regional Park, Larson Regional Park, Fryer Creek and Nathanson Creek Preserve.

Coastal Cleanup Day is dedicated to the improvement of beaches, coastal regions and surrounding areas throughout the world. It purports to be the largest volunteer event in the world, and has operated for more than 26 years. In 2013, more than 58,000 volunteers removed almost 750,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from California’s beaches, lakes, and waterways.

California’s coast and waterways have historically been dumping grounds and areas of accumulation for trash and debris. Although the event is called the “Coastal Clean-Up,” it was expanded to include inland waterways for important reasons.

Recent studies have shown 80 percent of ocean debris comes from inland sources such as creeks and rivers.

This debris can be harmful and even fatal to marine wildlife, damage the state’s economy, and even pose human health hazards.

This is a great event for families, students, service groups, and neighbors to join together, take care of the fragile wetland and marine environments, show community support for shared natural resources, learn how to minimize the environmental impact of trash, and to have fun.

Coffee and snacks will be provided in the morning. Workday will conclude with a light lunch and celebration from noon to 1 p.m.

The four venues are:

Sonoma Creek: Meet at Maxwell Farms Regional Park at the Boys & Girls Club, 100 Verano Ave.

Sonoma Creek: Larson Regional Park. Meet at picnic tables near new community garden site.

Nathanson Creek Preserve: Meet at the Native Plant Demonstration Garden, corner of MacArthur and Second Street East.

Fryer Creek: Meet in the Safeway parking lot on the south side of the building.

Volunteers should bring layered comfortable clothing, sunscreen, a water bottle, and a reusable mug if you like coffee. Participants may get wet and dirty. Bring your own gloves and buckets to remove trash. Organizers will provide gloves and trash bags as needed. Reusable items are guided by a desire to reduce the overall event footprint. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For questions about clean-up sites or to RSVP for a group of 8 or more, contact Trace McKellips at 996-0712, ext. 126 or email trace@sonomaecologycenter.org.

This project is funded in part by the Sonoma County Water Agency and California Department of Conservation.