Thriving Earth Exchange
Pinole Creek Watershed Trash Assessment
In 2021, Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed participated in a community science program with the American Geophysical Union (AGU) called Thriving Earth Exchange. Thriving Earth Exchange brought a coalition of community groups together with a postdoc researcher to address a community science concern in the Pinole Creek Watershed. Our team worked with Win Cowger to address the problem of trash in the Pinole Creek Watershed.
Methods
This project utilized the California Trash Monitoring Methods and Assessments Playbook developed by the San Francisco Estuary Institute to survey trash in the creek. Project volunteers spent over 380 hours collecting and analyzing trash at 23 randomized sites along the main stem of the Creek.
Results
The study estimated that there were 9,200 gallons of litter in Pinole Creek in the fall of 2021 — enough to fill 264 standard trash bins. It also found that the vast majority of garbage in the Creek comes from single-use plastic food packaging, including bags, cups and containers, as well as cigarettes.
Actions
The community volunteers have asked the City of Pinole to consider a number of measures to address the problem, including adding high-capacity solar trash cans in high-litter zones and enhancing the City’s existing styrofoam food packaging ordinance. Community involvement will also be essential to achieve a trash-free Pinole Creek. To that end, FOPCW is implementing a Pinole Creek Allies campaign. As part of that, Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed has launched a sub-group, Pinole Creek Allies, to focus on trash reduction in the Watershed.
You can read more and become a Pinole Creek Ally HERE.
