From the East Bay Regional Park District and the California Coastal Clean-up Day:
The East Bay Regional Park District is announcing registration to participate in the California Coastal Clean-up opens August 7.
The annual volunteer event will be held September 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
California Coastal Clean-up Day, an annual beach and inland waterway clean-up, is the state's largest volunteer event. (In 2010, for example, over 82,500 volunteers removed more than 1.2 million pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways. When combined with the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Cleanup Day becomes part of one of the largest volunteer events in the world.)
Coastal clean-ups are important because California's coast and waterways have historically been collecting spots for annual accumulations of trash and debris. This debris, if not removed, can be harmful and even fatal to all manners of marine wildlife, can damage our state's economy, and can even become a human health hazard.
In the Bay Area, from Fremont to Martinez, participants will help rid shoreline areas of trash and debris, including tires that have become stuck in the mud.
Of special concern are the plastics that collect along the shores because of the dangers they pose to wildlife.
Trash is a problem on our bay shorelines, at the mouths of many creeks and around our lakes. Marine animals can be injured in two ways by trash debris: through entanglement or by ingestion. Many types of sea critters have been found stuck in plastic debris such as fishing lines, bags and beverage container rings. Many animals will eat plastic, thinking it is food. When an animal ingests plastic, the debris can block its intestinal passage causing it to starve to death.
Coastal Clean-up Day is a great way for families, students, service groups, and neighbors to join together, take care of our fragile marine environment, show community support for our shared natural resources, learn about the impacts of marine debris and how we can prevent them, and to have fun. Local yacht clubs can also get involved with a special volunteer program designed for them through the park district.
On the day of the clean-up please bring your own bucket to collect trash, and a refillable water bottle to cut down on the use of plastic.
You can download a flyer with more details about it here. To find clean-up sites throughout California click here .
You can register on-line here on or after August 7.
For more information you can call the park district at 1-888-327-2757 and select option 2 and then 3.
