The American River Parkway Foundation collected more than 20,176 of pounds – more than 10 tons – of trash Saturday from the American River in just three hours, according to the group who organized the event.

From 9 a.m. to noon, more than 1,200 volunteers scoured a 26-mile stretch of the American River Parkway from Discovery Park in Sacramento to Negro Bar Recreation Area in Folsom for the foundation’s annual Great American River Cleanup. The event is held annually in conjunction with the California Coastal Cleanup Day.

“Our biggest cleanup of the year is underway! Excitement is in the air – thanks to all who are helping remove trash and debris from the American River Parkway this morning,” ARPF said in a post on its Facebook page.

Volunteers removed more than 27,000 pounds of trash during last year’s cleanup, ARPF said.

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