Good News: Oakland Projects Receive Funding for Estuary Clean Up

Tireless Oakland Estuary advocate Brock de Lappe alerted us to the news that the Oakland Estuary cleanup efforts will be boosted with over $3 million in funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program through a new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The money has been made available through the Biden-Harris administration’s investment of more than $23 million in debris removal and pollution interception across 10 coastal US states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

The funding is helping a variety of locations, including Oakland, remove derelict boats and marine debris from their waters. Other projects aim to intercept trash and debris before it reaches the ocean.

This $3,164,469 grant will fund the Oakland Police marine patrol unit and the community I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary program with critical funding toward removing abandoned boats, sunken wrecks and shoreline debris from the Oakland Estuary. I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary has been on the job for years with impactful citizen action keeping the Estuary clean so people can swim, sail, row, paddle and enjoy the Oakland-Alameda Estuary. Last April they hosted an Estuary cleanup for Earth Day, and they’ll be hosting another cleanup during the California Coastal Cleanup day, September 21. You can sign up to join them here.

Oakland’s work was one of 13 multiyear projects throughout the United States to be awarded a grant from NOAA. You can read more about NOAA’s specific grant to the Oakland Estuary here.

Brock offered tremendous thanks to Oakland Port Security Officer Kaleo Albino, Oakland Deputy City Administrator Joe DeVries and Mary Spicer, director of I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary, for their efforts to obtain this grant. Partners in the project also include Hobie dealer California Canoe & Kayak, the East Bay Rowing Club, Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation and the City of Oakland.

Sailors on both sides of the Estuary appreciate the efforts of everyone involved to restore the Estuary to a clean, vibrant, welcoming place for all.