East County residents came out in full force Saturday to clean up local waterways during the Marsh Creek Cleanup and the Antioch Coastal Cleanup events, as part of California Coastal Commission’s Coastal Cleanup Day. Hundreds of volunteers came out to support the events and help clean up their cities by picking up trash and beautifying their neighborhoods.

The Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed (FOMCW) marshaled more than 500 volunteers to clean up Marsh Creek at nine sites along 14 miles of the waterway that runs through Oakley and Brentwood.

The volunteers – residents of Brentwood, Oakley and Antioch as well as more far-flung Vacaville, Tracy, Pleasanton and Walnut Creek – collected more than six tons of garbage from the trails, creek and creek banks. Volunteers logged specific items for the California Coastal Commission’s data records, including 25 shopping carts, 636 plastic beverage bottles, 1,109 food wrappers, 914 cigarette filters, 31 tires, 49 condoms, 96 clothing items, 140 toys and three bicycles. Executive Director of Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed Diane Burgis said the strangest things found this year included a raccoon hat, handcuffs, a stereo and a computer monitor.

“The amount of garbage we pick up is amazing,” said Burgis. “I’m not sure it’s because we are dirtier than a lot of areas – it’s just that we’re really good at cleaning up.”

Hundreds of volunteers also turned out for Antioch’s annual coastal cleanup last weekend. Volunteer Trina Tuel reported that members of the Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary clubs plus representatives of the City of Antioch, the Lynn House Museum and the Red Caboose joined fellow Antioch residents to beautify their city by ridding the Delta coastline of pollution. Students from Antioch, Deer Valley and Pittsburg high schools also came out to support the event.

For more information about the California Coastal Commission and Coastal Cleanup Day, visit www.coastal.ca.gov.