California Shoreline Littered With Debris and Trash After Rash of Storms

Posted: January 28, 2023 3:00 am

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It is a messy scene across many parts of the California coastline after an onslaught of powerful storms has brought in a variety of trash and debris from the surrounding storm drains.

Waste and Debris Collecting Along California Coastline

Storm after storm after storm hammered the state of California in recent weeks bringing more than just heavy rain and snow. In addition to all of the travel disruptions and other issues caused by the constant line of storms, the intense weather has also sent a load of debris and trash to the state’s famous coastline.

The piles of debris are more than just an unsightly mess. The trash is also hazardous to the wildlife that lives in this part of the country. Not only can local wildlife get caught up in these debris piles but the presence of the waste can also contaminate the nearby water and air, causing health issues for humans.

Why is the Waste Being Funneled Toward the Shore?

The garbage is the result of clogged storm drains that are releasing the debris as water continues to overwhelm this capacity. The state built channels to send water from heavy rain directly into the ocean in response to flooding events several years ago. This was done in an effort to keep the floodwaters out of neighborhoods and other areas prone to flooding so that the region would not sustain as much damage during severe weather events.

While this practice typically works as intended to direct storm runoff into the ocean and away from vulnerable structures, it is also common for trash to build up in area sewers and storm drains during dry conditions. This means that torrential rainfall tends to send this waste into the designated channels, funneling it toward the coastline.

Engineers have put in certain measures to catch the waste and debris before it reaches the coastline. However, despite these measures, some trash evades the efforts to catch it, ending up along the shoreline.

What kind of trash is littering California’s coastline as a result of the heavy rain? In addition to smaller items such as bottle caps, golf balls, and plastic bags, local officials have reported finding vehicle parts, mattresses, and other large pieces of waste.

Officials are also reporting a large amount of driftwood and tree limbs in these wetlands. This is particularly true for areas of Northern California that are more forested. The high winds that came onshore with the rain also brought down tree limbs with the channels sending this wood down to the shoreline. What used to be pristine sandy beaches are now stretches of coastline covered in driftwood in many areas.

Cleanup efforts are now underway as residents work to remove all of the debris churned up by the storms. A pattern of dry weather has set in over the region over the past week, bringing relief to the storm-weary state. The break from the relentless parade of storms has supported the immense cleanup job.

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