An underwater cleanup

June Casagrande

For the organizers of Coastal Cleanup Day, the coast is actually a

moving target. That’s because about once every four years, the event

happens during high tide.

And if you think it’s tricky to organize a local portion of a

statewide event with more than a thousand volunteers and miles of

coastline to clean, imagine what it’s like when a lot of that

coastline is underwater.

“We’re going to need a lot more people on the water, people in

kayaks and canoes picking up trash out of the weeds and vegetation,”

said Kathy Painter of the Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends.

Painter’s group helps organize the Upper Newport Bay Coastal

Cleanup Day, one of many simultaneous cleanup events taking place

along the California coast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 21.

“Every year, it’s the third Saturday in September and every couple

of years that means it’s during high tide,” Painter said.

For some, such as the local Sea Scouts, this circumstance of the

earth’s rotation is no problem. Every year, the scouts take to the

water to participate in Coastal Cleanup Day. But for those who

typically think of the event as a day of walking along the shorelines

and beaches picking up trash, this year could be different. Anyone

with access to a canoe or kayak is encouraged to participate.

Volunteers in boats will launch from the Dunes armed with nets and

solemn determination to retrieve every floating Styrofoam container,

every cup, every piece of trash they can scoop up.

But there will be just as many volunteer opportunities for

landlubbers, too, including picking up trash, handing out bags and

gloves and other tasks. Just like last year, Painter said, about

1,300 volunteers are expected to take part in the cleanup.

“It’s always a fun day,” Painter said.