Monterey County sets out to solve litter problem along Arroyo Seco River

GREENFIELD, Calif. (KION) The Arroyo Seco River is a hidden gem in South Monterey County. "Uninhibited nature. That's the way it should be," said Monterey County Supervisor, Chris Lopez, while visiting the river on Tuesday.

An abundance of trash left along the river near the Green Bridge in Greenfield recently caught Lopez's attention. "My first reaction was to grab a garbage bag and start picking up the trash. I loaded garbage bags into my truck and took them to the dump. At some point I realized it was happening faster than I could pick it up," said Lopez.

Every weekend, the piles of garbage grow. According to Lopez, the waste could eventually end up in the Monterey Bay. "When we get a lot of run off from the hills behind us, this river can quickly jump in terms of elevation. It'll grab everything within the bed and carry it downstream. It picks up the bottles, the diapers, the trash," said Lopez.

Starting now, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office will patrol the area around Arroyo Seco Road and Elm Avenue. The land around the river is private property and trespassers can be cited.

Parking illegally will also cost big bucks. "Right now the fines are very minimal. They are $28. It's cheaper to pay a fine here than it is to park at an amusement park. Those fines will go up to $250 to $500 at the end of this month," said Monterey County Sheriff, Steve Bernal.

Monterey County officials also plan to mark additional tow zones along Arroyo Seco Road. "We're doing everything we can to encourage folks to go to other places that are open, such as our county parks. You've got the lakes down in South Monterey County. You've got the beach that's not far over these mountains," said Lopez.

Monterey County plans to clean up the riverbank before Fall. Those interested in taking part in the effort can email Supervisor Chris Lopez at district3@co.monterey.ca.us.