I Heart Oakland Alameda Estuary

04/22/2026

Happy earth day 🌳 celebrating our beautiful bay, oceans, rivers withNOAA Marine DebrissNational Ocean Service. Highly recommend this ♥️ post . Learn about plastics and the NOAA Marine Debris program. Please join IHOAE locally to keep our shores plastic n debris free.

Happy Earth Day! Today is a day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and taking action in support of planet Earth, while celebrating those who work to protect it.

One problem that our Earth faces is marine debris. Our trash has been found in every corner of our ocean, from the most remote shorelines, to ice in the Arctic, and even the deepest parts of the sea floor.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program works around the United States to investigate and prevent impacts of marine debris to benefit the environment, the economy, and navigational safety. Our work would not be possible without our partners and the collaboration between local agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry. Protecting planet Earth is a team effort!

Let's work together with these resources to protect the planet that sustains our ocean, Great Lakes, and waterways from marine debris! https://blog.marinedebris.noaa.gov/celebrate-earth-day-noaa-marine-debris-program

04/07/2026

WOOT JOIN US at JLAC & ESTUARY PARK THIS SATURDAY April 11 12 - 3PM REGISTER HERE * RAIN OR SHINE !!!! >

https://oaklandside.org/2026/04/06/oakland-earth-day-april18-2026-cleanup-estuary-community-fun/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRCdshleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe6EMOa3USNRnK1rguO6XEY3PVZyngc5MJXFbOyTcMLLf05i0qc1qKznL2hJM_aem_WxYScYUIXKKvigKwSj0pkw

https://Oakland_Earthday.eventbrite.com

Kayaking, planting seeds, and picking up trash are all enjoyable activities that help the environment.

04/02/2026

🧐 BEHOLD THE MYSTERY FISH!

I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary community member Leslie Evens recently discovered an unusual fish for our estuary.

🦭 But not before a local HARBOR SEAL discovered it!

Test your fish knowledge and let us know in the comments if you know the name for this “unusual for this estuary” marine creature.

Drop your best guess below and we’ll reveal our Mystery Fish soon!

Follow I Heart Oakland Alameda Estuary for more waterway discoveries.

Why it’s such a great “mystery fish”:

* 🦷 Human-like teeth! They have large, square front teeth for crushing shellfish.

* 🎨 Wild color changes:
* Females are pinkish with a white chin
* Males are bold red, black, and white

* 🔄 They can change s*x — females can transition to males as they mature.

* 🦭 Big enough to attract a curious harbor seal!

Thank you Leslie Evens for sharing your video with us.

03/25/2026

🌎 REGISTER TODAY EARTH DAY OAKLAND ESTUARY CLEANUP http://oakland_earthday.eventbrite.com

Join us to help protect the Oakland Estuary by removing trash and marine debris from Jack London Aquatic Center, Estuary Park, and surrounding shorelines. Support wildlife habitat, water quality, and a healthier estuary.

🗓 SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
🌊 LOW TIDE AT 2:00 PM (best shoreline access later in the day)

Thank you to our Partners & Supporters!


📸 Photos

03/24/2026

With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program through a 2024 award to the City of Oakland - Local Government , I Heart Oakland Alameda Estuary led a community cleanup in January 2026 to remove marine debris from local shorelines and waterways.

A total of 152 volunteers, including 35 paddlers, removed 5,660 pounds of debris from Jack London Aquatic Center, Estuary Park, and the waters and shorelines of the Oakland Estuary. It was a true example of teamwork, with local businesses and clubs contributing volunteer time, incentives, gear for getting on the water, and more.

Collected items included fragmented foam, food wrappers, wood pallets, plastic crates, old luggage, and lost dog tennis balls, among other debris. These materials can threaten wildlife, degrade water quality, and create navigation hazards in the estuary.

Efforts like this help protect coastal ecosystems while strengthening community stewardship.

Learn more about this project: https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/removal/removing-marine-debris-and-promoting-stewardship-oakland-estuary

Photos 1-5 Credit: Bénédicte Lassalle Photography
Photos 6-8 Credit: Javier Bustamente

03/24/2026

03/15/2026

🌎 Save-The-Date and join us

Saturday, April 11th for an
Earth Day Grand-Garbage-Go -Gathering Adventure, Clearing Oakland’s Shores and Beaches!

Location:
Jack London Aquatic Center
115 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94607

🚶 Walk the Park & Shore at JLAC or

🛶 Bring Your Own Kayak / SUP / Canoe to JLAC

Follow for sign-up details coming soon!

Join us and our partners: California Canoe and Kayak and East Bay Rowing Club.


We’ll have cleanup tools, gloves, and bags ready for you.

Questions? Text: (510) 283-4224 or email: [email protected]

🌞 Supported by

Photos and video by

02/16/2026

Our Problem: When storm season arrives, combined with powerful 8-foot tides, our watershed is overwhelmed with flooding, debris and plastic. What is troubling is knowing that much of the garbage and debris has a real chance of being pulled into the bay, where it can be lost forever breaking down into plastic that remains in our bay for a lifetime.

🛶 You The Solution: When volunteers contribute over 600 hours to Oakland’s natural spaces, the impact is immediate—and necessary.

This work doesn’t end here.

🌊 Our Problem: When storm season arrives, combined with powerful 8-foot tides, our watershed is overwhelmed with flooding, debris and plastic. What is troubling is knowing that much of the garbage and debris has a real chance of being pulled into the bay, where it can be lost forever breaking down into plastic that remains in our bay for a lifetime.

Your commitment to showing up protects our shoreline and the life that depends on it, while underscoring the urgent need for longer term solutions for the bay. We are excited and humbled by all of you that came out to clear the shores.

😍 We cannot do this event without our core volunteers: Samantha, Kelsey, Ayaana, Javier, Betsy, Pam, Dan, Devina, Nise, Lisa, Leslie, Andrea, Tara, Kate, Benedicte, Lila, JT, Lynne, Carla, Tom, Heather & Adam and countless others.

🥎 A BIG thank you to the Oakland Ballers for supporting this cleanup with free tickets to all participants!!!! This event is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program.

⛴️ Thank you to our partners and supporters: East Bay Rowing Club, California Canoe & Kayak, Student Conservation Association, the City of Oakland, Island Yacht Club and a special thank-you to the 3 whale boat teams that joined us, and all the paddlers, rowing and sailing clubs who joined this cleanup.

Thank you to Open Water for quenching our thirst.

What’s Next?

Save the Date:

Earth Day – Sat April 11, 2026

Event Images Copyright: Bénédicte Lassalle Photography

Email here for details: [email protected]

02/08/2026

MLK Day of Service JLAC, Estuary Park, Oakland Estuary Clean Up! We are inspired by everyone who stepped up to protect Oakland’s natural spaces—those who cleared the land and those who paddled out to reach the shores. Your volunteer impact is real, and it matters.

This work is done by Oakland’s volunteer community—and the bay’s wider community as well (we saw how far many of you traveled to join)—coming together with care, determination, and a deep love for the bay. Your effort and willingness to act to protect our shoreline and the wildlife that depends on it is deeply appreciated. Because of your commitment and hard work, we removed 5,660 pounds of debris from Oakland's shores..

A special thank-you to all Oaklanders and Alameda Islanders, whale boaters, paddlers, and the rowing and sailing clubs who joined this cleanup. A BIG thank you to the Oakland Ballers for supporting our cleanup with free tickets for volunteers and supporters: East Bay Rowing Club, California Canoe & Kayak, Student Conservation Association, and the City of Oakland.

This event is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NOAA Marine Debris

Thank you to Open Water for quenching our thirst.

Save the Date > Earth Day – Saturday, April 11th, 2026

Event Images Copyright: Bénédicte Lassalle Photography
www.benedictelassalle.com

East Bay Rowing Club California Canoe & Kayak NOAA Marine Debris Open Water Student Conservation Association Oakland Ballers City of Oakland - Local Government

01/23/2026

Thank you to KGO-TV NBC7 San Francisco Bay Area News for their live - Better Bay Area segment with Dan Ashley - an on-the-water tour of the Oakland Estuary and spotlight on our efforts to clean up wrecked, sunken boats!

Now viewable >>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSYiwQxJ-AY&t=8s

We took out Dan Ashley on a boat and showed him the issues and shared how a grant from the NOAA Marine Debris Program and coordinated efforts with the City of Oakland and an incredible community of volunteers worked together with iHeart Oakland Alameda Estuary to raise awareness of the shoreline issues to make a difference for our bay.

Thank you: East Bay Rowing Club City of Oakland - Local Government NOAA Marine Debris NBC Bay Area Dan AshleyCalifornia Canoe & Kayak
and our dedicated volunteers.

Images are stills from ABC7 News Bay Area’s video.