Date: May 13, 2003

Volunteers needed Saturday to clean up
40 miles of creeks in Santa Clara County

SAN JOSE - The Creek Connections Action Group is seeking volunteers this Saturday, May 17, to help clean up about 40 miles of creeks throughout Santa Clara County during the seventh annual National River Cleanup Day.

Volunteers should report at 9 a.m. to any one of 25 sites from Palo Alto to Gilroy. Participants are asked to wear long pants, sturdy shoes and sunscreen. Creek supplies and refreshments will be provided.

For more information and a map of cleanup sites, visit the Santa Clara Valley Water District Web site at www.valleywater.org or go to www.cleanacreek.org. Those interested in participating in Saturday's cleanup can also call (408) 265-2607, ext. 2238.

Last year's event drew more than 600 volunteers who pulled thousands of pounds of trash and debris from county creeks in the annual three-hour event.

Removing trash from streams protects water quality and the habitat of plants and animals that live in our creeks, and prevents pollution from flowing down the creeks to San Francisco and Monterey bays.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages Santa Clara County's wholesale drinking water resources, coordinates flood protection for its 1.7 million residents and provides stewardship for the county's 10 reservoirs and more than 700 miles of streams.