Volunteers Sought for Creek Cleanup

Although few volunteers are expected at Saturday’s annual Creek Cleanup, officials hope the event will draw attention to trash that is clogging local creeks.

Despite distribution of thousands of fliers through the local schools--and the promise of free gifts and refreshments to participants--no one has called to say he or she is willing to pick up debris on Saturday, said Heather Lea Merenda, storm water program manager for Calabasas.

But the goal of the event is to make people aware that what goes into the gutter ends up in a local creek, which eventually drains to local beaches.

“People wash their cars and the water runs down the street, taking everything that it comes in contact with, golf balls, leaves, cigarettes,” said Merenda.

“Right now, our creeks are a foot or two deep and people think that’s healthy. Our creeks should be dry now, not flowing year-round.”

Officials hope that by educating the public, individuals and neighborhood groups will become involved in the Calabasas Adopt-A-Creek program.

Twice a month, participants clean a section of creek and take water samples that the city uses to monitor the creek’s condition.

The program needs 30 volunteers. Currently, two students are volunteering for college credit, Merenda said.

Information about the Adopt-A-Creek program will be available during the cleanup event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Juan Bautista De Anza Park, 3701 Lost Hills Road. For more information, call (818) 878-4242, Ext. 293.