Sonoma Coast Surfrider
Volunteers needed to help with the Pinnacle Gulch shipwreck clean-up.
Friday, August 31st from 3:30-6:30pm
This was a pristine location now tragically littered with debris from last Friday’s shipwreck. Unfortunately, it is in a location that is difficult to access and we must work with the low tide window. We are looking for volunteers to help with the effort and any amount of time and hard work is appreciated. The sooner we can remove the debris from the beach, the better it is for the marine and seabird life and fish that abundantly inhabit the area.
Volunteers should bring good grip shoes or higher wading boots, protective gloves, protective eyewear, sunscreen, and a water bottle-expect to get dirty and possibly wet. Surfrider will have extra protective gloves and contractor bags. The goal is to bag and carry as much of the debris as possible and bring it around the point to a location where a truck can load it. Volunteers are asked to exercise extreme caution in the tide zone and around the debris.
Here is a map to the parking area: http://classic.mapquest.com/mq/1-ka30BSBCdEI0
The best parking for shortest access is to enter South Bodega Harbour (neighborhood with the golf course) Heron Drive is a loop. Best to turn left on Heron, travel about a mile and then turn left again on Swan Drive. Swan Drive ends at Pelican Loop-turn left onto Pelican Loop and about 100 yards on your left there is a short cut to the Pinnacle Gulch trail (which cuts about 2/3 of the walk). Volunteers have permission to park and access the trail from this point. The trail is well maintained with some steps towards the end. Once you reach the beach turn right and walk towards Doran Beach. The wreck is at the end of the beach about 300 yds.
Low tide is at 5:45PM and this will be the best and safest time to carry debris around the rocks: however, having help bagging and bringing the debris closer is a critical portion of the clean-up process. Volunteers are encouraged to arrive by 4 and stay until 6:30 or 7 but any and all help is appreciated.
The other access point is from Doran Beach – you will see the caution yellow tape at the end of the beach. You will have to carefully climb over the rocks or walk through the sea cave to access the wreck area.
I will be at the site most of the afternoon and work until the tide no longer allows safe passage.
Please email or call with your availability. My number is 707-217-9741
Cea Higgins
Sonoma Coast Surfrider
Press Democrat article: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120828/ARTICLES/120829526/1033/news?Title=Volunteers-clean-up-boat-wreck-near-Doran-Beach