Keepers of the Coast

Keepers of the Coast

by gabriela Cazares-Lopez, mason rockfellow and austin widger

Everyday trash gets dropped on the street by people. Eventually this trash makes its way to the ocean and the California coast creating everlasting consequences on animals and humans. These are the individuals working toward keeping the ocean debris free.

Part I: The Debris

Through the combination of drainage systems, inland waterways and humans, debris eventually makes its way to the Northern California coast leaving large impacts on marine life and the ecosystem.

Cigs
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Cigarette butts in San Francisco County

The amount of cigarette butts picked up by volunteers on International Cleanup Day from 2012-2015.

Part II: The Volunteers

Lynn Adams has been volunteering with the Pacifica Beach Coalition since 2001. Ever since then she, along with her fellow volunteers, work year-round to clean and restore habitats along the Pacifica coast. Last year the Coalition had 13,000 volunteers clocking in approximately 30,000 hours of work.

The Top 10

The top 10 debris items picked up by volunteers in 2016 in San Francisco County.

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Part III: The Solutions

The issues are numerous, and many volunteers are working tirelessly to improve them. Everyone can do their part to help, though. Our experts discuss what can be done to improve the conditions polluting California's beaches and oceans.

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More Waste

Percentage of food containers and wrappers found on San Francisco beaches from 2008-2015.