Grassroots Sacramento River Clean-Up Effort Grows

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A frequent fisherman, Gil noticed trash all over the Sacramento River. After posting a picture online, William Pfingst knew he wanted to help too.

"It's an unfortunate necessity. Most people don't clean up after themselves," said Pfingst, who organized the Sacramento River Clean Up.

This stretch of the river is fairly clean because Pfingst says he's out here daily. But even after just cleaning up a few days ago, the trash is back.

"Glass, diapers, clothes, tires," Pfingst said.

They started off paying for everything themselves, like some tubes filled with trash bags to leave on trees.

"If we want to have clean fisheries and pass it on to our kids, that's what needs to happen," Pfingst said.

After just a few weeks of cleaning up, other local businesses decided to help out.

"We just reached out to our local fishing community. Big Red Worm company donated to us," Pfingst said.

Word has been spreading and donations continue to come in.

"There's tons of people in the community who wanted to get behind something positive," Pfingst said.

So hopefully cleanup groups like this won't be needed.

"It's a benefit for everyone, the kids, the animals. It's a plus-plus."

For more information on how to join the clean-up effort, head to http://facebook.com/sacramentorivercleanup.