California environmental groups organize coastal cleanup events

Various environmental organizations across California are organizing volunteer cleanup events scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, as part of statewide efforts to remove debris from waterways and coastlines.

In San Luis Obispo County, the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (ECOSLO) will host the 21st Annual Creeks to Coast Cleanup. The event will span three dozen locations, including Oso Flaco Lake, Cayucos Pier, Morro Bay Embarcadero, and various local parks and creeks. Last year, the initiative mobilized 839 volunteers who collected over 7,300 pounds of trash.

In Orange County, the Inside the Outdoors program, administered by the Orange County Department of Education, will host activities at Upper Newport Bay for the 42nd annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. This event, organized statewide by the California Coastal Commission, focuses on protecting coastal wetlands that serve as habitats for endangered and migratory bird species.