Removing Marine Debris and Promoting Stewardship in the Oakland Estuary

The City of Oakland will work with community partners to remove abandoned and derelict vessels and promote prevention efforts in the Oakland Estuary.

Type of Project: Removal

Region: California

Project Dates: October 2024 - May 2027

Who is involved?

With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, the City of Oakland will work with I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary in Alameda County, East Bay Regional Park District, and other community partners and local volunteers, to prevent, monitor, and remove abandoned and derelict vessels. 

What is the project and why is it important?

Abandoned and derelict vessels can cause problems for our ocean, waterways, and Great Lakes by blocking navigational channels, damaging ecosystems, and diminishing the recreational value of the surrounding area. In the Oakland Estuary, abandoned and derelict vessels sink, leak contaminants, break apart in the water, and release hazardous materials into the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. These vessels can also damage vital habitats, which are important to thousands of waterbirds, commercial and recreational fisheries, and the local economy.

To avoid these dangers, this project will remove sunken abandoned and derelict vessels, other large marine debris like appliances and furniture, and consumer products, such as plastic beverage bottles and food wrappers, from an estuary of Oakland, California. Project partners will lead outreach and education to the boating community, and institute an abandoned and derelict vessel buy-back program to prevent vessels from becoming debris in the first place.

The project will engage estuary stakeholders, marinas, local aquatic teams and clubs, businesses, neighborhood groups, and the extended estuary community. They will raise awareness about marine debris and collaborate on solutions and outreach. I Heart Oakland Alameda Estuary will lead a volunteer community shoreline program that includes cleanup events at multiple different beach sites and on the water via kayak. Project partners will use the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project shoreline survey protocol to monitor the shorelines for debris ahead of cleanups. Partners will also conduct outreach to diverse communities living near the Oakland Estuary to raise awareness and work together on solutions and prevention of marine debris.

Long-term benefits of the project will include improved navigational safety and access to the estuary for vessels, fishers, kayakers, and more. These efforts aim to enhance access to and appreciation of the estuary and highlight its value to the community and local economy.

For more information about this project, visit the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.