Over 50 members of the Sacramento State community picked up trash, cleaned waterways and removed non-native plants along local creeks and streams early Saturday morning near Gardenland Park and West El Camino Avenue.

Sac State Serves held their second event during Creek Week, a county program that was followed by a celebration featuring food and entertainment from Radio Disney at Carmicheal Park.

Misty Sisneros, the coordinator of Sac State Serves, said she tries to create events where faculty, staff, alumni, and current students can come together as a university and participate for a specific cause.

“Our specific purpose here today is to not only clean up, but to help prevent the spread of an invasive weed which is starting to take away the habitat for plants and animals,” Sisneros said.

The Red Sesbania, an invading plant, features scarlet flowers and winged pods that have the ability to dominate certain areas along the rivers of the Central Valley. The members of Sac State Serves were responsible for removing the seedpods for another experienced group to come in and remove the entire plants.

Sac State Serves has generated attention from many potential volunteers. Because of the large number of participants, some volunteers were sent to an overflow site at Cal Expo Flood Plain.

Larry Luong, a Sac State student and volunteer, said that this event could raise awareness about the current problems along local creeks.

“Not everyone is aware of the huge amount of trash and weeds that is harming the ecosystem of the creek,” Luong said.

Luong said volunteering can make a difference in a community, and also that students can develop more leadership skills while helping the growing problem along local rivers and creeks.

“It feels good to be out here today and know that you are helping the community and possibly influencing other people to help,” Luong said.

John Subang, a local college student, volunteered with his sister along the creek and shares Luong’s idea about raising awareness of the problems created by not cleaning the areas along creeks and rivers.

“I didn’t know about how bad the trash problem was along the creek,” Subang said. “It is great to be a part of this and help reduce the problem”

Sac State Serves offers a mailing list on the community engagement center website, which includes information about the organization, as well as notices for upcoming events. Sisneros is currently planning summer events for Sac State community to make a difference locally.

“Our campus is right on the river, and any trash that is not picked up here today will end up in the river,” Sisneros said. “We are offering a connection between the university and the public that benefits everyone.”

Ricky Alejandro can be reached at [email protected].