The city of oakland will focus on removing at least 16 abandoned vessels from the oakland-alameda estuary, as well as removing other large debris items such as appliances, furniture and large debris…

The city of oakland will focus on removing at least 16 abandoned vessels from the oakland-alameda estuary, as well as removing other large debris items such as appliances, furniture and large debris pile in the estuary. The city will also institute a boat buy-back program, to incentivize owners to sell back their derelict boats. The city will be the main point of contact and overall coordinator for all components of the project. I heart oakland alameda estuary (IHOAE) will lead shoreline cleanups and outreach efforts. IHOAE will also conduct outreach on abandoned and derelict vessels (ADV) to raise awareness and collaborate on solutions to prevent marine debris. This project is estimated to remove approximately 520,000 pounds of debris, 16 vessels, and fund 12 community cleanup events. 20-30 vessels have already been identified as targets, and those actually to be removed will depend on a variety of factors, such as location, safety threats, size, ownership, etc. Vessel and large debris removal will be tracked by the oakland police department through their standard police reporting system. Shoreline and on-the-water debris removal will be tracked by I heart oakland alameda estuary. Long-term benefits of the project include improved navigational safety and access in the estuary for vessels, fisherman, kayakers, and more. IT will also improve the health of the marine life and the estuarys ecosystem by removing pollutants currently in the water and prevent future occurrences of dumping/abandonment of boats, appliances, furniture, and more. Reduced blight and improved accessibility of the estuary will also increase tourism and provide more economic opportunities for fishing, boat tours, walking tours, etc. That will especially benefit the disadvantaged communities surrounding the project area. The ADV outreach will have long-term benefits through the education and awareness efforts supported by I heart oakland alameda estuary, the city of oakland, as well as the physical debris removal efforts that will be ongoing by the oakland police department.