"Within a few minutes of moving down the estuary from Jack London Square, it started looking like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. Boats, big and small, sank or half-sunk along the length of the estuary. Spicer pointed out a large sailboat listing on its side, which neighbors say has been disabled for months. "It was actually anchored in the center of the channel for quite some time. A lot of our community members reported it," she said."
"But over the last several years, Spicer and her group have also mapped more than 40 sunken or derelict vessels, each with its own backstory, but one thing in common: they're now swamped in the Oakland estuary, often with gasoline and sewage still on board. One of the big problems they point to is what's called anchor-outs. Boats that are illegally anchored out away from the marinas."
More than 40 sunken or derelict vessels sit in the Oakland estuary, many holding gasoline and sewage. Community organizations and volunteers from groups such as I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary, East Bay Rowing Club, and California Canoe and Kayak conduct large cleanups using skiffs, kayaks, and paddleboards. Illegal "anchor-outs" keep boats anchored away from marinas beyond allowed limits, leading to abandonment and deterioration. Current Oakland law restricts anchoring to 12 hours over a seven-day period. Abandoned boats often break loose during storms, collide, or sink, increasing pollution and navigational hazards. Underwater cameras are used to locate submerged vessels for mapping and removal.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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