This special opportunity is possible thanks to partnership with the City of San Diego and agencies that oversee this special habitat. At least once each year, the San Diego River Park Foundation gets permission to enter the River Estuary on kayaks and remove trash from this sensitive habitat. We appreciate your interest in helping address this trash. While we will be working hard at the dirty work of removing trash, this is always also an incredible and enjoyable chance to get a unique glimpse at the estuary.
Meeting Location:
This event is located on the San Diego River Trail off Sea World Drive, there is no physical address. Here is a link to view the meeting location: http://bit.ly/kayakcleanupmap. Please be sure to follow these driving directions:
Directions from I-5:
- From I-5, take exit 21 for Sea World Drive/Tecolote Shores Rd.
- Head west on Sea World Dr.
- Turn left at light for South Shores Park
- Take the 1st right onto Old Sea World Dr.
- Head west on Old Sea World Drive and look for the San Diego River Park Foundation tent and staff. Parking is available on either side of the trail.
What to wear:
- Masks are required for volunteers unvaccinated against COVID-19, or volunteers who have not completed their vaccinations by Jan 5.
- Waterproof or water resistant clothing that can get muddy
- We encourage bright-colored clothing
- Layers, it is often cold on the water
- Water shoes or TEVA type sandals (shoes will likely get wet during launch)
- Sun Protection: hat, sunglasses, lip balm and sunscreen
What to bring:
- Kayak and personal floatation device (if we have you recorded above as bringing your own, if you are borrowing our kayaks, you will also borrow our PFD)
- Mask
- Ziploc/waterproof bag for personal belongings
- Cell phone in waterproof bag (at least 1 person from each boat will need a cell phone so that we may reach you if needed)
- Water to drink
- We will provide disposable gloves, trash bags, and trash pickers, but if you would like to use your own instead, please bring them.
- Optional: change of shoes and or a towel
Event Agenda: ***CANCELLED***
- 7:00 am: Check-in, unloading, collect supplies including trash pickers and trash bags
- 7:15 am: Safety talk
- 7:20-7:30 am: Launch kayaks/canoes
- 8:45 am: Return to launching location no later than the shift end time
Event Agenda:
- 9:15 am: Check-in, unloading, collect supplies including trash pickers and trash bags
- 9:30 am: Safety talk
- 9:35-9:45 am: Launch kayaks/canoes
- 11:00 am: Return to launching location no later than the shift end time
Event Agenda: ***ADDED DUE TO FIRST SHIFT BEING CANCELLED***
- 11:00 am: Check-in, unloading, collect supplies including trash pickers and trash bags
- 11:15 am: Safety talk
- 11:20am - 11:30 am: Launch kayaks/canoes
- 12:45 pm: Return to launching location no later than the shift end time
COVID-19 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
- Masks are required during check-in, regardless of vaccination status.
- Unvaccinated staff and volunteers, or those that have not completed the 10 day post-vaccination period, must wear masks at this event. Any volunteer may elect to wear a mask if they wish, regardless of vaccination status.
- Based on public health guidance, these precautions may be subject to change. We will highlight any changes by email and/or in-person during event orientation. Thank you for your help in keeping our community of volunteers safe!
Additional Information:
- Please be aware that the kayaks will launch from a slippery area in the rip-rap (large rocks), not a beach or dock. If needed, we will have volunteers on hand to help you load in and out.
- Your shoes may get wet entering/exiting the kayak/river. Please wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet AND have traction. You may want to bring an additional pair of footwear for your travel home.
- You may not exit the kayak/canoe to remove trash from the estuary habitat. The estuary is home to many sensitive plants and animals. Treading on the habitat even lightly can have significant negative impacts. Spartina or cordgrass, is the preferred habitat of the endangered Ridgway’s rail (formerly light-footed clapper rail) and is a predominant plant species in the estuary. It is extremely sensitive to disturbance.
- If your boat becomes too full of trash and you need to unload - pull boat up to the launch location near W. Mission Bay Drive Bridge and shore volunteers can take your trash and provide more bags.
- If you need a break or have an emergency, you can exit your kayak on the north side of the estuary near the launch location, at the 2nd bridge (W. Mission Bay Drive).
- No kayaks may travel east of I-5 bridge. No kayaks are to travel within 50 yards of the construction area for the W. Mission Bay Drive Bridge.
- Light rain will not cancel this event.
- For safety reasons, no pets are allowed at this event.
- There are no restroom facilities at this location. Please plan accordingly.
- Please be on time. In order for both shifts to have enough time on the water, we need to make sure we start on time.
