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Coronado Bay Trash Catches Attention in Iraq

Just a few days ago I received an email from a concerned eCoronado.com member and Coronado local who is currently deployed in Iraq.

Below is his email:

I'm a great fan of the eCoronado web site and keep up with the latest from the Island. I'm working here in Iraq on the State Department contract supporting the Ambassador and his staff. I appreciate that I can access eCoronado and keep up with what is happening on the island and see the latest photo's. Steve should remember me; I had a blog for a short time a few years back when I was on FOB Warrior in Kirkuk Iraq.

Anyway, my fiance sent me some pictures this last weekend that showed the trash that was washing up along the shore area around El Fornio. (Photos attached) She ended up wading into the water and pulling out more than three large garbage bags of trash and debris. She also noted to me that several people "Thanked her" but none offered to assist in bagging up the garbage. This is distressing to say the least because as far as I know, neither the County nor the City provide any bay waterway cleanup.
I was wondering if you could post a request on eCoronado for Kayakers, Paddle Boarders or anyone interested to organize a shore cleanup group. It could be a few times a month or once a month but anything would help the cause of keeping the Island clean.

Attached are a few pictures she took this weekend as well as a few of me in my eCoroando tee shirt (compliments of Steve) around FOB Warrior.

Please let me know if you can help out.

-Steve Cawthon

Photo Credit: Beth Lewis

During my emails with Steve he told me he has faith in the Coronado community and knows people will rally for the cause! Keeping the island clean and beautiful benefits not only the local residence but the visitors as well. AND he can't wait to get back and enjoy the views!!!

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Tags: community, people

3 members like this

Comment by Site Tutor on October 22, 2012 at 9:33am: Although I have not wadded into the ocean to collect the garbage, I think that members of the local community care more about there community than any community I have ever lived in. I know that I have bought into this belief and anytime I am out walking around town, I am always picking up trash to throw away. If everyone just picks up trash they see as they walk about town, we will continue to keep our city clean for us in addition to the visitors who come to the island.

As they say, one vote counts. Pick up one piece of trash you see each time you are out walking, and pretty soon, you won't be able to find any trash to pick up.

This doesn't answer the trash problem with trash in the water on the bay front, but its a start.

Comment by MIKE GAPP on October 22, 2012 at 11:17am: I was thinking about doing a kayak/canoe making workshop - Coronadans could save a lot of money and get the boat they always wanted, and folks could rent the boats for free if they returned with a bag of trash from the bay - silly maybe.

I once hauled a couple hundred pounds of trash off an island in Bahia de Los Angeles (another Coronado Island, coincidentally) on an overwhelmed sea kayak. - The swells fought me the whole way to the mainland. It was a great work out and I always felt like that was one less bit of plastic for the sea turtles to choke on.... Worth doing, even if no one else does it.

Hmmm. Maybe not so silly.

Mike Gapp

Comment by Kelly De Laurentis on October 22, 2012 at 11:59am: Just want to let you know that my son Kingston De Laurentis has made the Coronado Bay his personal spot to keep clean and has been doing this for the last 5 1/2 years. It's a way for him to give back and he earns community service hours for school. Some items he has found are: hard hat, tennis racket, combs, tie, flip flops, go go boot, jacket, numerous cans of spray paint, cigarette lighters, needles, 4 foot long sand shark, lots of styrofoam, fuzzy pink slipper, oars, two unused tickets to a concert (which he mailed back to the person who lost them).

Comment by Dana S. Chisholm on October 22, 2012 at 12:00pm: NOT a silly idea, Mike. I don't venture into the water, but have been wanting to learn to Paddle Board (kayak would be fun, too.) I would certainly join in and do it with purpose (pick up trash in the Bay). Maybe we could coordinate something with SUP Coronado or the surf shop? Would love to :-)

Dana :-)

Comment by Jaci Wennen on October 23, 2012 at 4:55am: When my husband was stationed in Virginia Beach we lived in a community called "Chic's Beach". It's a Chesapeake Bay front location with the same issues of trash primarily due to tourists. We joined in the community during our tour and it was a great experience. Once a month we would meet on the beach at 0700 grab a coffee etc., grab our trash bags and hit the beaches! Very rewarding! We find ourselves doing the same thing on amy beach we travel..picking up trash. People..we need to do our part, take pride and not only pick up our trash..but other peoples too. I've never seen a person who "lives on the island" litter.

Comment by MIKE GAPP on October 23, 2012 at 11:11pm: Hey, Kelly - good on Kingston!

I've found a lot of treasure in the bay over the years.

San Diego Bay has a lot of heart.

Mike Gapp