Students do spring cleaning at L.A. River

ATWATER VILLAGE, Calif. (KABC) -- A major two day cleanup of the Los Angeles River began Friday in Atwater Village. 800 students from 11 schools joined in the 20th Annual Great Los Angeles River Cleanup, La Gran Limieza, sponsored by the Friends of the Los Angeles River.

The students removed trash and debris from the riverbed and sorted it for recycling. They discovered items like plastic bags, Styrofoam fragments, shopping carts, tires and mattresses along the river.

• Friends of the Los Angeles River

The students also learned about water quality monitoring, river revitalization and native plants and animals.

The 11 schools participating in the cleanup include Multnomah Elementary School, Glenfeliz Elementary School, Century Community Charter School, Bancroft Middle School, Nobel Middle School, Thomas Starr King Middle School, California Academy for Liberal Studies, Early College High School, Central High School, Lakewood High School, Los Angeles Leadership Academy and North Hollywood Zoo Magnet High Center.

The cleanup project will continue Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. Activities are scheduled at the Tujunga Wash, Lake Balboa and the Bette Davis Picnic Area in the San Fernando Valley.

Cleanup teams are needed in Northeast L.A. at Los Feliz Blvd., Sunnynook Footbridge, Blake Lofts, Marsh Park, Taylor Yard and Steelhead Park.

Cleanup activities are also scheduled for the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena, the city of Bell and Lower Compton Creek in Southeast L.A. County.

In Long Beach, the cleanup work is planned for Willow Street Estuary and Golden Shore Wetland.

For more information, visit the Friends of the Los Angeles River Web site.

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