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COASTAL CLEANUP IN SOLANO AND YOLO COUNTIES IS SEPTEMBER 18, 2004
by JANE BOGNER
SUNDAY, September 05, 2004

I had the opportunity to go on two backpacking trips this summer with friends. In June we followed the Stuart Fork trail up to Emerald Lake in the Trinity Wilderness. In August, I hiked with seven women into Emigrant Wilderness. After we passed the Kennedy Lake trail, we virtually had the Sierra to ourselves. We carried all that we needed for seven nights in our packs. AT 9,000 feet, we found creeks flowing into high alpine lakes that invited us to cool off. Both mountains were virtually free of human litter. 

We found only a handful of stuff hidden in out of the way campsites. Because of the remoteness of this area of the Sierra, we were passed by many pack horse and mule trains ferrying supplies and/or people who chose not to backpack in. Thus horse residue was a constant hazard to be avoided on the trail and we were careful to pump all our water through filters to avoid nasty pathogens. Most of us habitually pick up litter on our daily walks, but once a year, everyone has an opportunity to join other volunteers for a concentrated cleaning of our local watershed.

Coast and Creek Cleanup is set for September 18, 2004 from 9 a.m. to noon. Working three hours will make a big difference in the health of our waterways for a whole year. Adults interested in signing on as captains should contact any of the coordinators listed below. If you are under the age of 18, you will need to get a parent or guardian to sign a waiver form before participating. All cleanup supplies will be provided, but volunteers should wear sun screen, sturdy shoes, a hat, and gloves. When you check in at the cleanup location, you will be given trash bags, pencils, and a special data card to tally the items you collect.

VALLEJO
Volunteers are asked to show up at the Vallejo Municipal Marina located at 42 Harbor Way at 8:30 a.m. where they will be assigned to a cleanup site. For more information contact 707 55-EARTH (553-2784) or email cleanup@VALCORErecycling.org.

BENICIA
Volunteers can show up at 9 am at the following sites: Bottom of East Fifth, West H at West Third Cove, West 12th Street Beach, Willow Glen Park, Foot of First Street, West Ninth Street Beach, Lake Herman at Sulfur Springs Creek, Bordoni Public Access at West Sixth and I street, and two sites at Benicia State Park - West K at Military and the Picnic Area. For information contact Sue Wickham at 747-5815 or Peter Fong at 707 746-4337 or pfong@ci.benicia.ca.us.

FAIRFIELD / SUISUN CITY / TRAVIS AFB
Contact: Barbara Ruff to confirm locations at 707 429-8930 or dontpollute@fssd.com.

VACAVILLE
Contact: Fern Wilson to confirm locations at 707 469-6405 or fwilson@cityofvacaville.com.

LAKE SOLANO PARK
This is a great opportunity to check out Lake Solano. They are planning a big lunch after their cleanup. Contact 530 795-2990 or ttarver@solanocounty.com.

DAVIS / WINTERS in Yolo County 
Contact 530 757-2776, coordinator@putahcreekcouncil.org or 530 666-8856, sara.kittle@yolocounty.org.

In 2003, 272 volunteers worked at 9 different Vallejo sites. In three hours they collected 7,080 pounds of trash, 1,100 pounds of recycling, 11 tires and 1,000 pounds of steel. Over one thousand volunteers in Solano and Yolo counties picked up 42,000 pounds of trash and 6000 pounds of recyclables last year.

This year’s local cleanups are sponsored by the cities and county of Solano; California Coastal Commission, VALCORE Recycling, Vallejo Garbage Service, Solano Garbage Service, Pleasant Hill Bayshore Disposal, Vacaville Sanitary Service, Vallejo Sanitation & Flood Control Dist., Fairfield/Suisun Sanitary District, cities and county of Yolo, Putah Creek Council, and the Watershed Stewardship Project funded by CALFED Bay Delta Program. For information about cleanups in other areas of California or to Adopt a Beach use the following contacts: www.coastal.ca.gov, (800) COAST-4U, or coast4u@coastal.ca.gov. 

VALLEJO COMPOSTING CLASSES
September 18 is a busy day for VALCORE. In addition to organizing the Coastal Cleanup, we will also have a free backyard and earthworm composting classes at 38 Sheridan from 10am to Noon. Two composting bins will be given away to two Vallejo residents.

VALCORE Recycling Vice President Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald, Community Outlook Section. For recycling information call Genie Kaggerud, VALCORE Recycling manager at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org.

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