Ensuring Clean Waters and Healthy Oceans

On an early November morning, we gathered 28 adults and 3 students for a cleanup along the San Lorenzo River. Our Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Sam Rupel, welcomed everyone and briefed them on our mission: to keep trash out of the marine environment and collect data for advocacy. After distributing grabber tools, data-collecting cards, and reusable gloves, volunteers spread out along the levee pathway.

In just two hours, we collected 91 pounds of trash and 5 pounds of recycling, including 426 cigarette butts, 276 plastic pieces, and 232 food wrappers. A rusty propane burner was even saved for reuse! Cleanups like these are crucial for preventing waste from entering our waterways and offer insights into local environmental issues.

The importance of keeping our watersheds clean cannot be overstated. Watersheds are vital as they not only provide drinking water but also support the health of our oceans. Pollutants that make their way into rivers and streams eventually flow into larger bodies of water, impacting marine life and ecosystems. By keeping our watersheds clean, we ensure safer, cleaner drinking water and contribute to the overall health of our oceans.

While our team was out cleaning up, we encountered another group from the Coastal Watershed Council conducting a ‘river health day.’ The unplanned presence of both organizations, united in purpose, became a heartwarming display of community care. Seeing the San Lorenzo River receive a day of much-needed conservation treatment by those who call it home was truly inspiring.

~Jadyn Polk