A Sticker Shows Hints of Progress on the Oakland Estuary

Could the tide finally be turning on the cleanup and maintenance of the Oakland Estuary? While expectations are low, the derelict, abandoned and illegally anchored boats in the Estuary have received some attention from some of the agencies and authorities responsible for managing the treasured (by boaters) waters along the Oakland shoreline.

Following growing scrutiny from Latitude 38 and numerous local media organizations, the San Jose Mercury News reported that police and other law enforcement agencies have finally started to enforce the law. This starts with a sticker, but is moving toward impoundment and removal of sunken, abandoned and illegally moored boats. This is a relief to the East Bay Rowing Club and the thousands of boaters who play on the Estuary all summer long.

The scrutiny of this very troubled corner of the Bay follows the tireless lobbying of concerned citizens like Brock de Lappe, Mary Spicer with the I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary organization, and Heather Krakora and the East Bay Rowing Club. It’s a very small but important step toward what everyone hopes will be increased attention to the waterfront, which most cities see as a crown jewel of their geography.

Though the problem of abandoned boats is most severe in Oakland it isn’t limited to there. Brock sent the photo above of another boat that washed up onto a beach in Alameda.

It quickly had a sticker applied by the East Bay Regional Park Authority, giving hope that it will be cleared out more quickly than the 40+ boats that lie sunken in the Oakland Estuary.

While the vision of a clean, safe and accessible Estuary appears to remain far in the future, we’re ready to recognize the small steps being made along the way.