SAN DIEGO — Volunteers loaded up their Kayaks to remove trash, e-waste and other recyclables from the San Diego River Estuary Saturday.
“I hope that we get every piece of trash that's here in these bags and out of sight,” volunteer Maxwell Blaine said.
The estuary is protected for endangered species but once a year, the San Diego River Park Foundation gets permission to have volunteers remove trash that builds up in the habitat.
“This is an area that's really of high ecological value, so it makes it a really high priority for us,” San Diego River Park Foundation Chief Operating Officer Sarah Hutmacher said.
The San Diego River Estuary is an area that supports all kinds of wildlife species including more than 100 different species of birds. However, the estuary is being threatened by many factors including its close proximity to cities, traffic and people.
“It's threatened by trash and pollution, it's threatened by, you know, development and other issues so it's really important for us to steward the land that exists so that we can protect it for habitat,” Hutmacher said.
San Diego Stormwater officials also said the recent rain caused even more waste to get washed into the Estuary.
“Any of that trash and debris that's in our streets flows into a storm drain, and its going to go untreated into our local water waste in the ocean,” said Craig Gustafson, Program Manager at Think Blue San Diego.
Interesting items were found in the water by volunteers, like a shoe, lunchbox and bike parts.
“A lot of things that we think don't become trash, so like for example, daily use items,” Volunteer Elise Ruiz said.
For more information on upcoming events hosted by the San Diego River Park Foundation visit sandiegoriver.org
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