The event, which took place on Sept. 20, featured 25 creekside cleanup sites, from Palo Alto to Gilroy. In Willow Glen 31 residents of all ages met at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at Blackford School, adjacent to the Los Gatos Creek Trail, to volunteer for a three-hour work shift. The group collected a total of 200 pounds of trash, of which 120 pounds were recyclable.

"Removing trash from creeks not only protects water quality and the habitat of the plants and animals that live in the creeks but also prevents pollution from flowing down the creeks to San Francisco and Monterey bays," said Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator for Santa Clara County Ed Morales.

The local effort was orchestrated by Willow Glen residents Susan and Robert Kusters.

"We participated in the National River Cleanup Day in May and found the experience really rewarding, so we decided to volunteer as site coordinator this year," Susan Kusters said.

Volunteers were encouraged to wear long pants and sturdy shoes, but everything from collection bags to gloves, sun visors, sunscreen, bug spray and refreshments was provided.

The action group, whose slogan is "be part of the solution to creek pollution," was formed in San Jose in 1995 by several local agencies with the goal to collaborate on creek-cleanup efforts in Santa Clara County. Since the group's inception, thousands of volunteers have participated in hundreds of cleanups, removing thousands of pounds of trash every year from creeks, rivers and lakes.

"With the help of individuals and groups, we can minimize the impact trash is making on our waterways and ensure they remain clean and healthy for Santa Clara Valley residents," Morales said.

For local residents who frequently use the creek trail for recreational activities, the reasons for volunteering were closer to home.

Willow Glen resident Gary LaCrosse said he uses the trail and wanted to come out and help clean it up.

Karen Hofert, also a Willow Glen resident, echoed this sentiment. "I've participated in past cleanups, and often when I am jogging on the path, I pick up garbage as I go along."

Middle school and high school students from local campuses were also on hand to fulfill a portion of their community-service requirements.

Sally Mrizek, who brought her eighth-grade son and two of his friends, looked on with pride as the three boys wrestled three shopping carts up the river's embankment, onto the path and back to the central collection area at Blackford School.

"The boys are really enjoying themselves and feeling good about what they are doing," Mrizek said.

Lincoln High School sophomores Madison Macdonald and Holly Brown, who learned about the cleanup day from their marine biology teacher, made use of an abandoned shopping cart to transport their bags of collected refuse along the river's banks.

Linda and Dave Lissner brought their sons Trevor, 11, and Kyle, 9, to the event.

"It's a great thing to do as a family," Linda said. "We feel it is important to instill in our sons a sense of community involvement and the importance of community service and giving back."

The Creek Connections Action Group coordinates two creek cleanups each year. Cleanups take place at various creeks, rivers, and lakes in Santa Clara County. National River Cleanup Day is the third Saturday in May and Coastal Cleanup Day is the third Saturday in September.

To find out more about volunteering and to get cleanup-site information, visit http://www.cleanacreek.org.