AGAWAM - Plastic bags, assorted glass bottles and aluminum cans, a rusty bucket and even carpeting - not things one would expect to fish out of the Westfield River.

But these items and more were removed from the river's banks on Saturday as part of the Westfield River Watershed Association's annual fall river cleanup.

Volunteers, like Valerie Smart and her daughter, Eden Berry, 11, both of Agawam, pitched in to help remove mounds of trash and debris large and small scattered within the watershed area.

"We come as often as we can to do the river cleanup," Smart said. "We believe in taking care of Mother Earth."

In addition to Agawam, the cleanup was held at the same time in Westfield. Volunteers were supplied with gloves, trash bags, bottled water and refreshments.

"You guys are making such a huge, positive impact for our rivers this weekend," Angela Mrozinski, outreach events director at the Connecticut River Conservancy, told the 37 volunteers assembled. "Thank you so much for all of your hard work to keep our rivers clean and beautiful."

Bill Rose, president of the Westfield River Watershed Association, told the group that cleanup efforts have been very fruitful.

"We have collected anywhere from a half to one ton of trash ... tires, and all kinds of things, automobile fenders; you can't imagine what we've come up with," Rose said.

In addition to bottles, cans and yards of plastic sheeting, the volunteers on Saturday found no shortage of broken glass and rusty nails.

After the cleanup, volunteers were invited to take part in a party at the Green River Cleanup in Greenfield featuring food and music. In addition, The Peoples' Pint brewery made a special beer for the event.

The cleanup project is part of the Connecticut River Watershed Council's annual "Source to Sea" effort, which involves various rivers and streams extending from the Canadian border south to the Long Island Sound in Connecticut.

Since 1953, the Westfield River Watershed Association has worked to protect and improve the natural resources of the watershed while also expanding recreational opportunities along the river. More information is available online at www.westfieldriver.org