BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The group known as the Keepers of the Kern announced they will not be hosting clean up events on the upper Kern River next month.

According to the Facebook page from the group, it is due to overcrowded campgrounds, excessive trash and human waste, increased COVID-19 cases and the heatwave.

They said they will reevaluate the situation in a few weeks.

They also add it was a difficult decision to make but the health and safety of volunteers needed to come first.