RIVER OF VOLUNTEERS AID IN ANNUAL CLEANUP TONS OF GARBAGE REMOVED FROM STRETCH OF SANTA CLARA.

CANYON COUNTRY - Hundreds of Earth-loving volunteers lathered on sunscreen and took to the Santa Clara River on Saturday, picking up at least 20 tons of trash for the seventh annual River Rally.

After they checked in at event headquarters in an open field near Camp Plenty Road and Calla Way, 700 to 800 children, teens and adults grabbed pairs of cloth gloves and headed for a one-mile stretch, where they encountered tires, bottles and other debris.

``We came to help the community because we want our river to be clean,'' said Melissa Fox, 9, who spent an hour collecting trash with Girl Scout Troop 888. ``We found lots of cigarette butts and glass.''

Jill Fosselman, environmental services manager for the city of Santa Clarita, which sponsored the effort, helped volunteers check in under a large tent, where children colored and snacked on donated bagels and cream cheese.

``These are people who care about the Valley,'' Fosselman said. ``There are Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts here, and some are here with their families to pull trash out of the river.''

Organizers said last year's event yielded about 20 tons of refuse, which was then hauled to a dump site. Fosselman said this year may amount to as much as 25 tons of trash pulled from the river.

Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club were on hand with literature about environmental preservation and cleanup efforts.

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3 photos

Photo:

(1) Not all the debris collected in Saturday's cleanup was considered trash. This volunteer plans to recycle these found items.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

(2 -- 3) Organizers estimated as many as 800 volunteers helped in Saturday's seventh annual River Rally cleanup. At least 20 tons of debris were collected by volunteers in Saturday's River Rally along the Santa Clara River.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer