SAN LUIS OBISPO – Caltrans District 5 Maintenance workers are participating in Coastal Cleanup Week, an annual event designed to remove litter that eventually reaches beaches, lakes and waterways. Caltrans maintains over 12,000 structures and bridges above or alongside inland waterways that eventually flow to the ocean.
Caltrans District 5 maintenance workers will be making these improvements in the following areas this week:
- Santa Barbara County – Culvert cleanup will take place near southbound Hwy. 101 from Carpinteria Creek to the Santa Barbara city limit improving the flow at twelve creeks and a wetland area in Carpinteria. Litter removal will also occur on southbound Hwy. 101 at San Pedro Creek, Las Vegas Creek and near Rufugio State Park.
- Santa Barbara County – The Buellton maintenance team will work to cleanup near southbound Hwy. 1 at the Santa Ynez River in Lompoc and along southbound Hwy. 101 at the Santa Ynez River in Buellton. The Santa Maria maintenance crew will pick up litter near the Santa Maria River Bridge.
- San Luis Obispo County – The San Luis Obispo maintenance team will pick up litter on Hwy. 1 between Pismo Beach and Oceano. The Templeton maintenance crew will pick up litter along Hwy. 46 East near Buena Vista Drive in Paso Robles.
- Monterey County – The Monterey maintenance crew will pick up litter below bridges on Hwy. 1.
This effort is part of the continuing effort of the “Don’t Trash California” campaign. Last year, more than 65,000 volunteers removed more than 770,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from beaches, lakes and waterways.
One way the public can help is by participating in Caltrans’ Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) Program. To become a volunteer or support the program through a paid sponsorship, call 1-866-ADOPT-A-HWY or go to: http://adopt-a-highway.dot.ca.gov. Currently, nearly 13,000 volunteers participate in the AAH Program, saving taxpayers an estimated $16 million annually in litter removal costs.
