Where does all the trash in Lake Merritt come from during the rainy season? The answer lies in the storm drains. Lake Merritt has over 63 drains flowing into it, and when it rains, all the trash that has accumulated in those drains throughout the year gets flushed into the lake.
During heavy rainfall, Lake Merritt becomes inundated with debris—not just plastic and litter, but also pollutants like oil, paint, and runoff from the surrounding 7-square-mile area, stretching from downtown Oakland to the hills.
This is where the Lake Merritt Institute steps in. Our team strategically targets hotspot areas, collecting data and cleaning up pollution to track and mitigate its impact. However, we can’t do it alone.
The community plays a crucial role in keeping Lake Merritt clean. Schools, corporations, and volunteers help us through both donations and hands-on efforts. If you’d like to make a difference, we’d love to have you join us.
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