LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This year Lake County is once again taking part in the California Coastal Cleanup Day, and volunteers are encouraged to come out and clean up local beaches, creeks and streams.

The 28th annual Coastal Cleanup Day, which focuses not just on beaches but on inland waterways, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon.

“It goes beyond the coast, to the waterways, back into the watershed to the headwaters,” said Carolyn Ruttan of Lake County Water Resources, the local coordinator of this year’s cleanup. “Over the years, the Cleanup Day has expanded to include all lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and creeks that eventually flow to the ocean.”

Ruttan is working with support from each of the local watershed groups, the cities, service groups, and organizations such as the Lakeport Yacht Club, the Homeowners of Kono Tayee Estates, and others.

Several businesses and agencies also are providing supplies, dumpsters and other materials, including Lakeport Disposal, South Lake Refuse, C&S Waste Solutions and Caltrans.

Cleanup locations confirmed to date include the Big Oak Shopping Center, 13300 E. Highway 20, in Clearlake Oaks; the Lake County Fire Protection District station at 14815 Olympic Drive, Clearlake; and the Fifth Street boat ramp in Lakeport.

Come to the cleanup prepared for the weather – wear closed-toed shoes, sunscreen and a hat, and bring an extra layer, in case it is chilly. Fill a reusable water bottle and pack a “trash-free” lunch.

Bring a bucket or reusable bag for collecting trash and a lightweight pair of gardening gloves – most sites are equipped with dumpsters so volunteers can dump what they collect and take their bucket or reusable bag back home.

Trash bags will be available on site. Pick up every bit of human trash you can find in your favorite waterway. If items cannot be moved, please record their location so that we can remove them using equipment and tools.

Everyone who participates in Coastal Cleanup day must sign a waiver form – they will be available at the cleanup locations. If you are under 18, you will need a parent or guardian signature before participating.

In 1985, the California Coastal Commission launched the first statewide Coastal Cleanup Day and the following year joined Ocean Conservancy in its International Coastal Cleanup, creating the world’s largest volunteer event related to the marine environment.

Today, California Coastal Cleanup Day is the state’s largest annual volunteer event, drawing tens of thousands of people to more than 800 sites spread throughout 53 of California’s 58 counties.

Since 1985, more than 1.1 million volunteers have helped remove 18 million pounds of debris from the state’s shorelines.

For information on locations and volunteering, contact Carolyn Ruttan in the Lake County Department of Water Resources at 707-263-2256 or 707-295-0333.