Bay Area: Volunteer to Help with the Oil Spill

This week’s oil spill in the San Francisco Bay has gone from bad to worse.  With ribbons of oil and tar stretching ten miles or more, the 58,0000+  gallon spill threatens wildlife, the Farralon Islands, Marin beaches, the crabbing industry, has forced the closing of Angel Island and the suspension of ferry service.  And when reading about this disaster, we can easily become depressed. We can feel pretty helpless, here on dry land, to stop the destruction. But in truth, we can help, and we must. Several volunteer opportunities exist now and will continue to exist; this will not be an easy clean up. Get your hands dirty, and in the process, you just might lift your spirit.

From SFgate 11/08: “The Coast Guard is asking for the public’s help with the oil spill that has fouled San Francisco Bay and local beaches.” Ways to do so:

1. www.owcn.org. People interested in volunteering with the cleanup should visit this site regularly for the most up to date info on the effort.

2. Enviornmental group Baykeeper is collecting a list of interested volunteers here:  www.baykeeper.org.

3. Residents can help authorities track the movement of the spill by calling the private cleanup company, O’Brien’s Group of Southern California at (985) 781-0804.

4. You can report oiled wildlife to this number: (877) 823-6926.

5. Owners of damaged property can submit a claim by calling (888) 850-8486.

And finally, though they are not offering training for volunteers, the California’s Department of Fish and Game is also stepping in to help, and will offer classes today (11/10)  in San Francisco, Sausalito and Richmond, explaining how cleanups are conducted and how to get trained in wildlife recovery.

The classes will be held:

– From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Marina Bay Yacht Harbor, 1340 Marina Way South, Richmond. (510) 236-1013.

– From 5 to 7 p.m. at the Headlands Institute, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Building 1033, Sausalito. (415) 332-5771.

Photo credit: SFgate/Deanne Fitzmaurice