SAN DIEGO, Sept. 6, 2011 – On Saturday, September 17, around 10,000 volunteers will visit 90 coastal and inland cleanup sites for a one-day attack on marine debris and inland pollution. This year, Coastal Cleanup Day coordinators I Love A Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper highlight on their website several green “in need” cleanup sites, where data from the annual event show a higher demand for volunteers. To reduce the event’s carbon footprint and individual waste, organizers also ask volunteers to select local sites in their own communities and to bring reusable buckets, bags, work gloves and water bottles.
“Trash travels from inland communities into storm drains which empty into our canyons, creek beds and eventually the ocean,” said Pauline Martinson, Executive Director for I Love A Clean San Diego. “That’s why it’s especially important for volunteers to lend a hand in their local neighborhood—our entire county needs a cleaning.”
To encourage participation in areas that need extra hands, San Diego’s Coastal Cleanup Day website, www.cleanupday.org features “in need” sites labeled in green in areas such as Clairemont, Normal Heights, City Heights, La Mesa, Tijuana River Valley and more. These sites were identified based on data from previous cleanups, indicating that some inland sites recover more debris as well as larger items such as tires, couches, and more.
“A recent statewide survey shows that this event significantly increases knowledge about the causes of marine debris—and that’s the first step in stopping the problem,” said Alicia Glassco, Education and Marine Debris Manager at Coastkeeper. “We see Coastal Cleanup Day as a hands-on educational event that connects residents to their neighborhood while removing harmful debris.”
I Love A Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper also ask volunteers to reduce their carbon footprint while participating in the event. Instead of traveling long distance to a site, volunteers should stay at their local cleanup locations and remember to bring their own reusable bag or bucket, work gloves and water bottle.
Last year in San Diego County, volunteer involvement rose to approximately 9,000 participants, with another 3,000 volunteers lending their support across the border in the U.S./Mexico-shared Tijuana Watershed. Volunteers removed close to 100 tons of debris from more than 80 cleanup sites along the coastline and in canyons, creek beds, lagoons, estuaries and open spaces.
This year, volunteers should register on the San Diego County event website at www.cleanupday.org. The website includes an interactive Google Map with all cleanup sites in the region, including a handful of green “in need” sites. Sites where registration is at capacity are denoted in red. Information for children, scouts, and groups are also available on the website.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 29, 2012 – Coastkeeper’s Ocean Commotion concert invites San Diegans to come support their local music, businesses and ocean watchdogs on March 7 from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. The bands, The Barnwell Shift, Big Penny and special guests GGBB, will perform live music with local flair and unite the community in a live musical celebration of San Diego’s inland and coastal waters.
Based in Oceanside, The Barnwell Shift are known as multi-instrumentalists at heart. The originators of folk, funk and rock, the band will blend all three genres of music into one amazing performance.
The Valley Center’s Big Penny will use the guitar, harmonica, organ, drums, melodica, bass and mandolin to meld original folk, dark country and rock.
GGBB of Escondido, lead by the “Father of Soviet Rock ‘n’ Roll” Valery Siesky, will mix intricate keyboard licks, “raunchy rock ‘n’ roll guitar” and drumming to create a unique live sound.
Along with live music, favorite drinks and conversations with Coastkeeper crew and friends, guests can partake in an opportunity drawing of prizes. The prizes range from gift cards, gear and apparel to a week stay at Seapointe Resort in Carlsbad. The guests will also have a unique opportunity to win a one-of-a-kind Linden Surfboard donated by Gary Linden.
The tickets are $10 online at www.bellyup.com/show/detail/56050, or $12 at the door. The event is 21 and up. All proceeds of this event will benefit San Diego Coastkeeper and their work to protect and maintain the health of inland and coastal waters.
For more information about the event, visit Coastkeeper’s website at localhost/sdcoastkeeper.
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San Diego Coastkeeper
Founded in 1995, San Diego Coastkeeper aims to protect and restore fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters in San Diego County. Our team seeks always (and all ways) to be impactful, thoughtful, courageous, transparent, innovative, collaborative, consistent, passionate and exemplary. For more information, visit us online at https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org.
