Oakland Estuary Cleanup To Haul 16 Boats
On Wednesday, Lind Marine began the long-awaited removal of sunken boats on the Oakland Estuary. Sixteen wrecks are being removed as part of the NOAA marine debris-removal grant of $3.16 million to clean up the Estuary. Brock de Lappe has been an enormous advocate for the Estuary, and along with Mary Spicer of I Heart Oakland and Alameda Estuary and other Estuary boosters, has managed to stir the slow wheels of bureaucracy to get a cleanup underway.
The Oakland Police Department Marine Unit announced the removal program at a press conference held on Thursday. The OPD said an enforcement strategy was developed in partnership with the City of Oakland and the city attorney’s office. Officers worked to identify vessels, issue notices, and arrange voluntary surrenders, traveling as far as Sacramento and San Jose to locate owners and secure vessels for removal.
“This is what partnership looks like,” Oakland Police Chief James Beere said in a press release. “This effort is more than removing abandoned vessels. It’s about protecting our waterways and making sure Oaklanders and visitors can safely access their waterfront. I’m proud of the work of our Marine Unit and grateful to the partners and community members who are helping us reclaim these public spaces.”
While OPD recognizes and thanks the nonprofit I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary (whose more than 100 volunteers participated in a shoreline cleanup last weekend), we want to be sure that a huge thank-you also goes to Brock de Lappe. Brock has been working and advocating for a cleaner Estuary for what now amounts to years! Thank you, Brock!
We know that some cleanup has been taking place at various times over the past year or so. Latitude delivery driver Bob Bodnar was over near Jack London Square earlier this month and watched Lind Marine removing some boats. “Mostly powerboats but one sailboat,” Bob says. But hey, each boat removed leads toward a cleaner, safer Estuary.
According to the OPD press release, the City of Oakland has secured more than $3 million in state and federal grants to support ongoing cleanup efforts, including vessel removal, public education and shoreline cleanups. We look forward to seeing the results of this grant.