More than 35,000 Pounds of Trash Picked up in County Coastal Cleanup Day

Results for Santa Clara County’s Coastal Cleanup Day efforts, which included Vasona Lake County Park and Los Gatos Creek last Saturday, are as follows:

• Number of volunteers: 1,643
• Number of sites: 43
• Distance cleaned: 74 miles of creeks and shoreline
• Pounds of trash: 35,423
• Pounds of recyclables: 9,388

Unusual items found: life-size Santa Claus lawn decoration; old-fashioned can opener, toy dinosaur, fireworks mortar launcher, crawdad trap, voodoo doll, skateboard, blonde wig, clean $1 bills, propane tank, manikin head, 1962 dodge convertible, hibachi, TV tray, checkbook, dentures, sign on wheels, DVD player, bookcase, yoga mat, mini toilet, dog collar (without the dog), exercise ball, flag pole and more.

"Thank you everyone for your help with this huge undertaking. This cleanup event would not take place without you! I am very grateful to you, the wonderful site coordinators, for taking the lead and harnessing the energy of the volunteers that clean up our creeks and reservoirs," wrote Kate Slama, volunteer coordinator for the local effort for the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Local volunteers from Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga, headed by Los Gatos resident David Lane, focused their cleanup efforts around Vasona Lake County Park and Los Gatos Creek as part of the 27th annual Coastal Cleanup Day.

The event began at 9 a.m. and ended at noon Saturday, Sept. 15 and volunteers met at the entrance of Vasona Lake Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd. in Los Gatos.

Presentation High School Panthers Environment Club from San Jose and teacher coordinator Corina Rahmig, attended one of the largest cleanup efforts, according to Lane.

The next volunteer opportunity is National River Cleanup Day, Saturday, May 18, 2013, 9 a.m.-noon. "Hope to see Los Gatos students and one or more Los Gatos teachers at the Vasona, Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos Creek community service credit event," Lane said, thanking those who came to help him last Saturday.

The event was sponsored by the nonprofit Creek Connections Action Group.