What began in Humboldt 35 years ago has grown into an international day of caring with hundreds of thousands of people collecting millions of tons of trash. Leaving the beach cleaner than you found it is one of the tangible benefits derived from Coastal Cleanup Day participation. The longer-term rewards stem from the data collection that makes CCD different from a usual cleanup. Knowing which items make up the majority of the trash means better policies, more success at stemming litter at the source and the ability to influence individual actions. Help the world be better, Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. 

Rockin’ the Coastal Act

California Coastal Cleanup Day comes to you via the Coastal Commission, which happens to be meeting today through Friday in Smith River. The Commission and staff are marking the 30th anniversary of Coastal Cleanup Day, but they have some more recent successes worth highlighting, too:

• The long overdue ability to levy fines on property owners illegally blocking beach access. 
• Securing funds to partner with agencies on updating Local Coastal Plans (LCPs). 
• Forward-thinking efforts to address, and help communities plan for, sea level rise.

Check out the rest of the Commission’s strategic plan here, and view the full agenda and webcast via the link above.

In related stories of the good-bad news sort, California is better than the rest of the U.S. and the North Coast may get more birds. 

On the waterfront

Humboldt Bay is often inviting and is especially beckoning this Saturday when HSU’s Aquatic Center unrolls Paddlefest 2014.

Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center Operations Supervisor Elicia Goldsworthy will talk about the free treats offered to experienced and novice paddlers of all ages on Coastal Currents today at noon on KHUM 104.7 FM and khum.com.

Get an early start with the PacOut Green Team (congrats, Tim!), cleaning up around the Adorni Center starting at 8:30 a.m.

Full schedule of Paddlefest lessons, tours and happenings here. 

Do your homework, solve California’s water problems

LoCO readers are clearly the cleverest folks out there, right? Please use your big brains to help ensure water for all residents of our Golden State. Thanks to Next 10‘s new California Water Challenge, anyone can utilize an online simulation tool to create a unique plan to meet the increasing demands on the state’s limited water supplies. Warm up with this quiz, let us know when we can start taking long showers again and tune into the Sept. 17 Coastal Currents for an interview with the researchers behind the challenge.

We know LoCO readers like dead things!

Judging from all the reader photo submissions of various carcasses on the beach, this is right up your alley… er… spit? In any case, help make a difference for the environment by collecting data for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, a citizen science project dedicated to involving volunteers in the collection of high quality data on the status of coastal beaches and trends of seabirds. Their goal is to assist government agencies and other organizations in making informed management and conservation decisions, and promote proactive citizen involvement and action.

A free six-hour training session teaches participants how to use the custom Beached Birds field guid and includes practice with actual specimens. (Provide a $20 refundable deposit if you would like to take home a COASST volunteer kit.) The next training happens Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Arcata Library Conference Room.

To reserve your spot, email coasst@uw.edu or call (206) 221-6893. 

Coastal trees are the coolest trees

Explore North Coast Seakayaking Association hosts a presentation by Dr. Steve Sillett on coast redwoods and other tall trees, Monday, Sept. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, 921 Waterfront Dr., Eureka. Call 825-9221 or email for more information.

Native dunes are the nicest dunes (also, cookies!)

Help restore the native dune ecosystem at the Ma-le’l Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge with Friends of the Dunes on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Gloves, tools and cookies are provided. Wear work clothes and bring drinking water. Meet at the Ma-le’l North parking lot off of Young Lane in Manila. For more information, call 444-1397. 

As you can see, many chances to get outside and do good await. Which will you choose?

I leave you with an attempt to capture last night’s resplendent sunset, green flash included.