Storm runoff includes harmful items, picked up by passersby before they reach the ocean

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - With the mounds of driftwood, debris and vegetation that's come to the local shores from last week's powerful storms, many people are also finding a lot of trash washed out from the creeks.

One area with trash and lost items from upstream, is the beach in Carpinteria. Debris stretches from the city beach at Linden Ave. along the state park to the east.

Earlier this week Caitlin Kazepis was going through the area and pulled out items that would be harmful to the ocean or any sea life.

That included plastics, metal, clothing, and plumbing items.

In two days she and her boyfriend picked up multiple bags of trash "and three  lobster traps.  There were some of us out here with wire cutters and knives.  It all came up from the bottom."

Many environmental groups have been gathering their volunteers together for clean up days.
They also encourage the public to do it on their own.

Some people have also found lost belongings from the wash out and have been able to identify and find the owners.