Volunteers sought for annual Creek Week cleanup in Citrus Heights

By Thomas J. Sullivan–
Registration for 2019 Creek Week continues through this Friday, reminds Alta Tura, president of the Sacramento Area Creeks Council.

Last year, 240 volunteers collected trash from Arcade, San Juan and Cripple Creeks in Citrus Heights.

The Council’s annual clean-up day this year falls on Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to noon. The effort draws volunteers to improve and enhance urban waterways throughout Sacramento County.

The deadline to register for the cleanup is April 5, 2019, at creekweek.net. All volunteers must complete and sign a waiver form.

The amount of trash collected from creeks last year was down by about 500 pounds from 2,000 pound total collected in 2017, Tura told The Sentinel in an interview.

“We’re still looking for many more volunteers,” she said. “The more volunteers who register and participate, the cleaner our community creeks could be.”

The creeks council is hoping for clear weather to give volunteers much better footing along Citrus Height’s muddy creeks. More dry weather will also help lower water levels to aid with access to deeper pockets of trash and perhaps surpass the 2,000-pound collection mark.

Volunteers are needed this year at Cherry Creek Park — Brooktree Creek; Costco — Arcade Creek; Crestmont — Cripple Creek; Crosswoods Park — Arcade Creek; Halifax at Auburn Blvd. – Arcade Creek; Oak Lakes Lane – Cripple Creek; and Rusch Park – Cripple Creek.

Parking details, directions and a map of each creek site are listed at https://creekweek.net/volunteer-online/citrus-heights/

“We encourage people to register online. It helps us to get started with each cleanup day faster,” Tura said. “There is a limit to how much trash and debris we can collect in three hours.”

“Creek Week is a great opportunity to get children and families together and make a difference in their community,” Tura said.

Tura reminded participating volunteers that they should furnish their own drinking water and bring a bucket or reusable shopping bag per person to collect light trash.

“Above all, wear comfortable, washable clothes, preferably long pants and long sleeves,” she said. “Some volunteers bring a grabbing tool or a rake, but that’s optional.”

Tura also recommended bringing gloves, waterproof shoes or boots, and a hat and sunscreen.

Ground terrain varies at all sites, Tura said. Volunteers should be wary of poison oak at all sites. All children must be with a responsible adult as the debris, water, or slippery stream banks may be hazardous.

Volunteers who register online will be matched with administrative volunteers who will confirm their clean-up site location and answer any questions they may have. If necessary, volunteers may be reassigned to where they are most needed, Tura said.

On April 13, volunteers are asked to promptly report at 9:00 a.m. to their confirmed clean-up sites and check in with their team leader who will provide them with instructions, garbage bags and help them get started.

“In addition to our younger volunteers and families who participate each year, we’re grateful for many of the community and civic organizations who take part,” she said.

Sponsors of Creek Week include the City of Citrus Heights, KVIE Public Television, Delta Conservancy, County of Sacramento, California American Water, California Department of Water Resources, CalRecycle, and the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency.

Clean-up volunteers are also invited to join in the Annual Creek Week Picnic Celebration on April 13 from noon to 2 p.m. at Carmichael Park, 5750 Grant Avenue in Carmichael. Participants can also enter their clean-up finds in a “Junk and Gunk” contest.