Coastal Cleanup Day 2023

MLT Tackles

7.3 Miles

Nets 3,319 Lbs.

This is a big thank-you for the 296 people who came out to help during the September Coastal Cleanup. As this year’s theme put it: You are bigger than you think!

And you were! You tidied up 17.3 miles of beach and waterways by standing tall (or bravely bending over, or proudly rolling along, or triumphantly tucked into a kayak) to clean up 3,319 pounds of trash.

Wow.

The news from some sites is that there was less garbage than last year, but alas, not in every location. Micro trash abounds, still, and one team’s notes had the comment: “For God’s sake, quit smoking!” Way, way, too many cigarette butts were found, and the risk they pose to wildlife is considerable.

In addition to the butts, there was the usual run of plastic, cans, and things left behind such as bicycle parts and lawn furniture. But then, there were the items that got the cleanup crews’ attention: a tube of candy called “toxic waste slime licker squeeze,” unused cans of whipped cream—maybe the party ended early, a set of acrylic nails, a tiny dancer doll, a spider man, and the grill off a Land Rover.

Talk about a mixed and messy bag.

Where did all this happen here in Mendo? There was a lot of love laid down on:

• Big River Beach – Mendo Parks & Mendocino Mermaids

• Caspar Beach – Coastal Mendocino Association of Realtors

• Glass Beach – City of Fort Bragg

• Hare Creek Beach – Mendocino Land Trust

• MacKerricher at Ward Avenue – SurfRiders

• Noyo Harbor Beach – Noyo Center for Marine Science

• Ten Mile Beach Dunes – Mendocino Coast Audubon Society

• Noyo River – Boating Cleanup – Liquid Fusion Kayak

• Point Arena Cove – City of Point Arena

• Pudding Creek Beach – Fort Bragg Middle School

• Russian River – Ukiah Valley – Mendocino County Resource Conservation District

• Seaside Beach – Mendocino Land Trust

• Van Damme Beach – Little River Environmental Action Group

• Virgin Creek Beach – North Coast Brewing Company

• Coastal Forest Inland, Jackson Demonstration Forest – Mendocino Trail Stewards

• Noyo Harbor Headlands Park – Latino Outdoors

Ouch. It makes me tired just to write all this down, never mind the work that went on out there!

So many of our groups above come out year-after-year, and we can’t thank them enough. You made these public spaces safer and more pleasant. We will think of you all the next time we visit these sites. If you weren’t able to be a part of the cleanup, then please thank those who did. They deserve it!

2023 Cleanup Sites

Cleanup Sites on the Mendocino Coast

Seaside Beach Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Land Trust

Ten Mile Dunes Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Coast Audubon

MacKerricher Beach at Ward Avenue 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Surfriders

Virgin Creek Beach 9 am – 11 am hosted by North Coast Brewing Company

Glass Beach Cleanup 9am – 11 am hosted by City of Fort Bragg

Noyo Harbor Beach 10 am – 12 pm hosted by the Noyo Center

Dolphin Isle Boating Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Liquid Fusion Kayaking (Bring your own watercraft or reserve a rental from Kayak Noyo. All participants must wear lifejacket during the cleanup. This year, the boating cleanup will launch from the Dolphin Isle launch/access at 32399 Basin St., Fort Bragg at 9 am for the 9 to noon cleanup on September 23, 2023.. Questions? Email info@liquidfusionkayaking.com.

Hare Creek Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Land Trust (RSVPs appreciated by emailing anne@mendocinolandtrust.org – we will meet in the Mendo College Coast Center parking lot)

Forest Cleanup 10 am – 12 pm organized by Mendocino Trail Stewards (please email mendocinotrailstewards@gmail.com to RSVP and receive more info)

Caspar Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Coastal Mendocino Association of Realtors

Big River Beach 10 am – 12 pm hosted by MendoParks and Mendocino Mermaids

Noyo Harbor Beach 10 am – 12 pm hosted by the Noyo Center

Noyo Headlands Park 9:30 am – 12 pm hosted by Latino Outdoors North Coast Chapter, Please register using this link. Questions? Email Esme at e.plascencia@latinooutdoors.org. (Group will meet at the entrance of Noyo Headlands Park on West Cypress St.)

Point Arena Cove 9 am – 12 pm hosted by City of Point Arena

But I don’t live on the coast!

No problem – Coastal Cleanup Day isn’t just about the coast, it’s about keeping creeks and rivers trash-free as well. Mendocino County Resource Conservation District could use your help in the Ukiah area. Participants meet at 8:30 AM at Low Gap Park on Saturday, September 23rd, 2023. Registration required using this google form. If you have questions, please send an email to j.reid@mcrcd.org

But I’m busy that weekend!

We got you – there are a few other options:

  1. Join Little River Environmental Action Group at 10 am on Monday, September 25 to cleanup Van Damme Beach

But why aren’t the schools involved?!

Oh but they are! Big THANKS to school groups planning their own cleanup events in celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day! (Participation in these events is limited to those invited by the organizing school group)

  • Fort Bragg Middle School cleans up Pudding Creek Beach
  • Teacher Erin Brazill and TLC students from FBUSD clean up Westport Beaches
  • Pacific Community Charter School take on Moat Creek Beach, the Stornetta Lands and more

Coming soon: a map of ALL Coastal Cleanup Day sites from the California Coastal Commission!

2022 Coastal Cleanup Day Summary and Photos

2022 coastal cleanup day

On September 17, 458 volunteers spent a Saturday morning collecting trash from more than 21 beaches, trails, and watersheds. Thanks to this effort, 6,383 lbs of trash and recycling were diverted from the ocean, keeping it clean for wildlife and humans alike. 

The Mendocino Land Trust would like to thank the good people at Mendo Recycle/Mendocino Solid Waste Authority for financial support and Redwood Waste Solutions for their donation of dumpsters for the event. Thanks also to all the site captains who hosted local cleanups; whether for the first time or the 16th, your efforts make the day extraordinary.

Sound fun? Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 16, 2023. Contact us at info@mendocinolandtrust.org and we’ll put you on the list for next year.

Read more about the day here.

2022 Cleanup Sites on the Mendocino Coast

Seaside Beach Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Land Trust

Ten Mile Dunes Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Coast Audobon

MacKerricher Beach at Ward Avenue 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Surfriders

Virgin Creek Beach 9 am – 11 am hosted by North Coast Brewing Company (meet at the brewery at 8:30 am to bike or carpool to the beach!)

Glass Beach Cleanup 9am – 12 pm hosted by City of Fort Bragg

Noyo Headlands Park 9:30 am – 12 pm hosted by Latino Outdoors North Coast Chapter and Blue Zones. Please email Esme at e.plascencia@latinooutdoors.org and let her know if you plan to come. (Group will meet at the entrance of Noyo Headlands Park on West Cypress St.)

Noyo River Boating Cleanup 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Liquid Fusion Kayaking (We launch from the ramp at Dolphin Isle Marina at 9am. Please call ahead if you would like to rent a kayak)

Hare Creek Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Mendocino Land Trust (RSVPs appreciated by using this form or emailing info@mendocinolandtrust.org – we will meet in the Mendo College Coast Center parking lot)

Jackson State Demonstration Forest Cleanup 10 am – 12 pm near Mitchell Creek Drive organized by Mendocino Trail Stewards (please email mendocinotrailstewards@gmail.com to RSVP and receive more info)

Caspar Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Coastal Mendocino Association of Realtors

Big River Beach 10 am – 12 pm hosted by MendoParks and Mendocino Mermaids

Navarro Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by Golden Brands

Noyo Harbor Beach 9 am – 12 pm hosted by the Noyo Center and  Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund

Point Arena Cove 9 am – 12 pm hosted by City of Point Arena

Cook’s Beach 9 am – 11 am hosted by Redwood Coast Land Conservancy. Please RSVP at rclc.org.

Busy on Saturday? Well, consider helping RCLC at Mill Bend on Friday or LEAG at Van Damme on Monday:

Mill Bend  FRIDAY SEPT 16 9 am – 11 am hosted by Redwood Coast Land Conservancy. Please RSVP at rclc.org

Van Damme Beach 10 am – 11:30 am Monday, September 19 hosted by Little River Environmental Action Group

Big THANKS to school groups planning their own cleanup events in celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day! (Participation in these events is limited to those invited by the organizing school group)

  • Fort Bragg Middle School cleans up Pudding Creek Beach
  • Teacher Erin Brazill and TLC students from FBUSD clean up Westport Beaches
  • Pacific Community Charter School take on Moat Creek Beach, the Stornetta Lands and more

Here is a map of ALL Coastal Cleanup Day sites from the California Coastal Commission:

2021 Coastal Cleanup Day: Photos and Info

2021 coastal cleanup day summary

In 2021, there were 35 coastal cleanup sites in Mendocino County. Even though it was pouring rain the day of the event, 287 volunteers removed 3,667 POUNDS of trash/recyclables from Mendocino County beaches, creeks and rivers! If you are interested in participating on the third Saturday in September this year, please email info@mendocinolandtrust.org. We are always looking for new site captains, especially those interested in organizing a cleanup site along a river or creek. The Mendocino Land Trust would like to extend big thanks to MendoRecycle for providing a grant to help cover staff time spent coordinating this event and Waste Management‘s Fort Bragg office for facilitating dumpster donation!

Please enjoy these photos from 2021:

Virgin Creek Beach, photo courtesy of North Coast Brewing Company
MLT's Ed Welter tosses trash bags into a truck at Hare Creek Beach
MLT’s Ed Welter tosses trash bags into a truck at Hare Creek Beach
Liquid Fusion Kayaking volunteers always haul a “boatload” of trash
Photos from 2021 Coastal Cleanup Day

2021 Sites and Partnering Organizations

Busy on Saturday? One group has opted to do their cleanup on Monday… join them then if you would like.

Additionally, big THANKS to school groups planning their own cleanup events in celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day! (Participation in these events is limited to those invited by the organizing school group)

  • Fort Bragg Middle School cleans up Pudding Creek Beach
  • Teacher Erin Brazill and TLC students from FBUSD clean up Westport Beaches
  • Pacific Community Charter School take on Moat Creek Beach, the Stornetta Lands and more