Beginning October 2019, Oakland asked that we measure trash collected in gallons.
Every month since January, 1997, the Institute has removed several hundred to several thousand pounds of trash from the shoreline of Lake Merritt.
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Above shows amount of trash collected each month from Lake Merritt over nearly 23 years.
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Although still too high to meet impending regulatory restrictions, trash levels have declined over the years due to restrictions on plastic packaging, public education, and storm drain filters. More storm drain filters are needed, plus enforcement on littering in Lakeside Park and other areas.
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The above chart is nearly identical to a rainfall chart. Rainwater washes tons of trash including used syringes into the storm drain system which then flows into Lake (Estuary) Merritt.
A few hundred to about fifteen hundred pounds are removed during the summer months when no rain falls.
What must be done about trash in urban runoff?
- In 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formally declared that the beneficial uses of Lake Merritt (recreation, wildlife, spawning & estuarine habitat) are “impaired” because of trash and low oxygen.
- In 2009, the Water Quality Control Board required 70 Bay Area cities to reduce trash in storm water 40% by July, 2014; 70% by 2017 and 100% by 2022.
- If these requirements are not met, penalties could be as high as $25,000 per day or $10 per pound of trash remaining in the water!
Lost Anything? We found these in the Lake.
