On-the-Water Estuary Cleanup

I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary is a group of water sport enthusiasts brought together by their shared love of the Oakland Estuary near Jack London Aquatic Center and the birds, fish and seals that call it home. Observing up-close how garbage and litter negatively impacts wildlife on beaches around the Estuary, they started organizing recurring cleanups that engage participants not only on land but also in dragon boats, canoes, kayaks, and other types of watercraft allowing them to access remote locations that cannot be reached on foot. 

In September 2024, a grant helped the group fund a large cleanup event with 116 volunteers who went out on 25 kayaks/standup paddle boards, 3 skiffs and on foot to collect trash from Jack London Aquatic Center, Estuary Park, and Clinton Basin in Oakland CA. They gathered up 2,460 lbs of debris, including litter washed into the Estuary through storm drains, as well as dumped large items, and debris from intense storms. In addition to cleaning up litter and restoring the Estuary for wildlife, I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary is building partnerships with local businesses, public agencies and schools to grow awareness of the litter problem and scale up solutions.

More grant funding for projects like this is available! Learn more.