STOCKTON, CA - This past Saturday, 238 volunteers joined San Joaquin County's 27th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, removing an estimated 1,500 pounds of trash and debris from over 15 miles of land and waterways.

Cleanup sites included Lodi Lake, American Legion Park, the Calaveras River Bridge at Pacific Avenue, McHenry Recreation Area, Mosher Slough, the San Joaquin River, and Edgar Thoming Park in Tracy. Participants represented high schools from across the County, Girl Scout troops, college clubs, and San Joaquin County partners—making this year's cleanup a true Countywide effort.

“It is inspiring to see so many residents come together to care for the parks, waterways and natural spaces that make San Joaquin County such a special place to live,” said San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chair Sonny Dhaliwal. “The dedication of our volunteers shows that when our community works together, we can make a meaningful difference in protecting our environment for generations to come.”

Organizers noted that several sites appeared cleaner than in past years—an encouraging sign that ongoing cleanup efforts are having a lasting impact. Looking ahead, future events may expand to new locations to build on this progress.

Volunteers were treated to T-shirts thanks to the generous support of Condor Earth Technologies, Kleinfelder, Tom Mayo Construction, Cen Cal Glass, the Port of Stockton, MRPE, and R&F Engineering. The event was made possible through partnerships with the City of Stockton, City of Tracy, City of Lodi, the Sierra Club at University of the Pacific, Restore the Delta, and the Port of Stockton. Niagara Water donated bottled water for participants, and Republic Services provided dumpsters to collect waste.

“The success of Coastal Cleanup Day is a direct reflection of the commitment of our volunteers and community partners,” said San Joaquin County Public Works Director Najee Zarif. “Removing 1,500 pounds of debris from our local waterways and public spaces is a tremendous accomplishment, and we are grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to make this event possible.”

For more information about next year's Coastal Cleanup Day, which typically occurs on the third Saturday in September, please contact San Joaquin County Public Works - Water Resources at (209) 468-3089 or visit www.sjwater.org. Statewide details are available at www.coastal.ca.gov.

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