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Coastal Cleanup Day 2012: Let’s Make it Official!

Today’s post comes from ILACSD’s Marketing Intern, Brian McComb!

Okay, the poundage has been tabulated, the registration forms summed up. Our sunburns have been nursed and the totals are finally in! Before we give you all the glorious details you crave, let’s all promise to recognize some of the more intensive endeavors that came about on this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day. After the numbers, be sure to check out the rundown of all the special projects that were able to undertaken thanks to Lowe’s!

Now without further ado, here are the fruits of your labor from Coastal Cleanup Day on September 15th, 2012.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE! Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble (okay, maybe a little ado)…

Through your combined efforts at 88 different cleanup sites across San Diego County, this year 7,200 volunteers worked together to remove 126,000 lbs of trash and debris in just 3 hours time!

Volunteers found more than just bottles and cans!

Holy monkeys that’s a lot of poundage! The best part is, this actually is less trash than we saw last year. Translation? Your hard work is making a big difference right here in your own backyard, we are starting to see less trash year after year! You never know what you are going to find at cleanup events like this, some of the more of unusual items reported by volunteers this year included an entire trash bag full of popcorn, a bubblegum machine, and even a brand new TV.

More than just picking up trash.

Now here is where you promised to pay attention. Many of you know that you were out there doing way more than just picking up trash. Volunteers removed graffiti, built trails, mulched, planted trees and other native species and removed invasive plant species at the following locations. These fantastic projects were made possible by a grant from Lowe’s through Keep America Beautiful and truly transformed the local landscape:

San Dieguito Lagoon
Manzanita Canyon – 
Volunteers also provided maintenance of the firebreak between the canyon and local homes.
Cooper Canyon
Serra Mesa, Library Canyon and Serra Mesa Recreation Center
Clairemont, Mount Etna Canyon
Hillcrest, Marston Canyon
Chollas Creek at 54th Street
Lakeside, Lindo Lake
National City, Paradise Creek – 
Restoration of the wetlands and upland creek bed.
Chula Vista, Salt Creek Park

Phew, that was a lot of work! Now there might not be a lot that is great about knocking out work in the 100-degree heat, but we are already starting to see the benefits of all your efforts! Let’s keep winning this battle, and move ever closer to a waste free San Diego!

Captain Wetiquette, ILACSD’s clean water mascot, was so happy at CCD!