SAN DIEGO -- Thousands of volunteers gathered at 50 locations throughout San Diego County on Saturday to pick up trash and debris along coastal and inland areas in the fourth annual "Creek to Bay Cleanup."

Locations include beaches, bays, creeks, canyons and open space parks from Oceanside to San Ysidro and Mission Beach to Lake Morena.

The event is sponsored by the nonprofit group I Love A Clean San Diego.

"Cleaning up our water system is important to our environment and just as important to our economy," San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price said. "Bays and beaches support tourism, which is a big boost for San Diego jobs and businesses ... clean water is important to our regional ecosystem."

Last year, more than 2,500 volunteers cleaned about 80 miles of shoreline and parks, removing almost 103,000 pounds of trash.