All,
THANK YOU, LODI LAKE –MOKELUMNE RIVER COASTAL CLEANUP 2016 VOLUNTEERS!
We did it again — broke our past records: 330 people came out to work at the 14th annual Lodi Lake-Mokelumne River Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 17, 2016.
We were almost overwhelmed, if it were not for the awesome front table sign in team: Super-heroes Krista and Brianna Keaney, Dylan and Kyle O’Ryan, Quinn and Lauren Schwabauer, Kristen Fukunaga, Jasmin Gill and Kirandeep Kaur. KUDOS!
Thank you, Ham Lane Starbucks and Walmart, for your donations of coffee and granola bars for the workers. Workers devoured everything!
We collected 182.5 pounds of trash in 52 bags, or 2 cubic feet of trash, from 10 miles of trails, river and parkways. AWESOME!
Volunteers counted 2,868 cigarette butts, down from last year’s total of over 4,000-plus butts. Dog waste from the west side of Lodi Lake was estimated at 50 pounds. (Hmmm… we need to work on reducing this!)
Most unusual items found included a coconut, toothbrush, adult soiled diaper, cloth snake child’s toy, sandals, 20 gallon storage box, sheet metal pieces, baby pacifier, old raft, oven door knobs, weed grinder, air mattress, half flip, lawn mower motor, full milk jug, and power stick body spray, as well as piles of plastic bits, bags, and bottles beyond description.
Special warm thanks to all these hard workers who spent the morning picking up, counting and sorting garbage from Lodi Lake Park and the Mokelumne River:
- Lodi High teachers Dave Greulich, Todd Oesterman, Jenn and Jeff Tillet, who, along with 114 Lodi High students, worked hard to the bitter end.
- Tokay High Go Green Club and students also showed up strong with 95 students. Amazing!
- Lodi Lake Nature Area Docents — Jeri Miller, who worked with students leading a group cleaning up; and Marilyn Hughes and Jay Bell, who helped organize the kayakers to pick up trash from the river.
- Lawrence School — their first cleanup, with three students and several parents. Thank you! Hope you come again.
- Reese School attended with 14 students and two parents, as well as a teacher, Mel Martinez. Great turnout! Also first timers.
- Vineyard Christian Middle School, another first-time attender, had seven students and several parents. Many thanks!
- Girl Scout Troop 1895 worked hard with 35 students and several leaders. Great workers!
- Boy Scout Troop 399 worked with 13 boys and leaders. Thank you!
- Heritage School had seven students, one parent, and one teacher. Awesome!
… As well as many more unnamed individuals and families from the general public. Thank you a hundred times. It’s fun to watch the same families return each year with their growing children.
Annual Coastal Cleanups don’t happen without logistical support from SJ County Public Works. Thank you, Daniella, for staying on your horse for your first rodeo. Good job! CALTRANS — who donated bags and moral support — thank you.
And City of Lodi staff — Dan White and Lodi Lake staffers, thank you for hauling away all the garbage in time for picnic area rentals.
And thank you, Public Works support staff, who helped beyond the call of duty: Yessenia, Stacy and Brian, and their families. Go team!
TAKE THE CLEANUP HOME! With the rainy season approaching, please remember that the streets of Lodi drain to the Mokelumne River, untreated!
Please look for ways to reduce your neighborhood’s impact on the river by reducing the pollution on your streets and in your landscape, by reducing the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
Soap, paint, trash, grease and oil, as well as sidewalk grit, cigarette butts, and landscape leaves and yard waste, all have their way of floating off in the stormwater to the river. Pick it up, sweep it up; please don’t let it reach the storm drain. Please make the extra effort to help keep our streets, Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River free from pollution.
Thanks again for your great show of community spirit at this year’s Coastal Cleanup. Hope to see you all sometime “down by the river!”
Kathy Grant
City of Lodi, Public Works
Watershed Program Coordinator