Santa Margarita Water District hosted its first annual Coastal Clean Up on Saturday, September 17, 2022, in partnership with West Yost Associates and 100 community volunteers.
Roughly 1,000 pounds of trash was collected in just one hour and twenty minutes. Volunteers helped clean up the popular Water Works bike trail, the sidewalk along Antonio Parkway, and the trickling Trabuco Creek near Oso Parkway. Children of all ages were excited to compete for the "most trash collected" and "most unique item found" awards. Unique items ranged from snake skins, bug filled bottles, garden hoses, and styrofoam packing covered in beehives, to random refrigerator and car parts.
A filthy storm drain grate located 11 miles inland from the beach reminded guests that all waterways lead to our beautiful oceans. It's critical that we all do our part to cleanup and maintain our communities and environment. This Clean Up is part of nationwide effort to contribute to a cleaner, healthier coast. Thousands of volunteers across the country remove trash before the winter rains arrive and wash it out to the ocean, where it harms marine life and the ocean's shared ecosystem.
