Powered by nonprofit Algalita

Alamitos Bay sits at the downstream end of two major urban watersheds: the Los Angeles River and the San Gabriel River. Trash from streets, parking lots, schoolyards, and neighborhoods across the region is carried through storm drains and waterways during rain events and tidal cycles, eventually settling into the bay.

Because the bay is semi-enclosed and shaped by docks, channels, and marinas, floating debris often gets trapped rather than flushed back out to sea. Tides, wind, and everyday activity then move that trash into predictable accumulation zones.

This means that much of the trash found in Alamitos Bay did not originate here. It reflects what is happening upstream across the entire watershed. Tracking where debris accumulates helps reveal these pathways and supports solutions focused on prevention, infrastructure improvements, and source reduction, not just cleanup.

While cleanups provide immediate relief and are an important way to care for the bay, they are not a long-term solution on their own. To create lasting change, we need to understand where trash consistently accumulates and why.

By tracking litter hotspots over time, we can:

• Reveal the pathways trash takes through the watershed
• Identify areas where debris repeatedly collects
• Prioritize cleanups where they make the greatest impact
• Inform stormwater and infrastructure improvements
• Support upstream prevention strategies
• Advocate for systemic solutions that address sources, not symptoms

Tracking turns observations into evidence, and evidence into action.

For this project, trash refers to human-made debris that does not belong in the bay or along its shoreline.

Common examples include:

• Plastic bottles, caps, wrappers, and bags
• Food containers, cups, and utensils
• Foam pieces or dock foam fragments
• Fishing line, rope, or netting
• Cigarette butts
• Balloons or balloon fragments

If you’re unsure whether something counts, use this simple rule of thumb:
If it was made by people and doesn’t belong in the water or along the shoreline, it counts as trash.

A trash hotspot is a place where debris is clearly accumulating or getting trapped, rather than a single isolated item.

Hotspots often occur:

• Along shorelines where floating debris washes up
• Near docks, pilings, or marinas where trash gets caught
• In corners, coves, or low-flow areas where water slows down
• After storms or high tides when debris is pushed inland

A hotspot might look like:

• A visible pile or cluster of trash
• Repeated plastic items gathering in the same spot
• Debris tangled in vegetation, rocks, or infrastructure

You don’t need to judge how severe it is. If trash is clearly accumulating in one area, it’s worth documenting.

That still counts. If you see several pieces of trash gathering in one area, or the same spot collecting debris over time, it’s worth documenting. Even early or small accumulations help us understand how debris moves and where it begins to collect.

If you’re unsure, trust your judgment. If it looks like trash is starting to collect rather than just a single stray item, it’s helpful to share.

No. Anyone can submit a trash hotspot observation. There’s no formal signup required.

We appreciate that instinct. If it’s safe and you’re already planning to clean up, you’re welcome to do so.

However, for this project, it’s most helpful to document the trash first before it’s removed. Photos and location information allow us to understand where trash is consistently accumulating and why.

Tracking helps guide smarter cleanups and long-term prevention strategies. Removing trash without documenting it can erase important information about how debris is moving through the bay.

If you do choose to clean it up, please document it first whenever possible and always prioritize your safety.

The easiest way is to use the maps app on your phone.

On Apple Maps or Google Maps:

1. Open the app and zoom into the exact spot where you took the photo.
2. Press and hold on the location until a pin drops.
3. The latitude and longitude will appear on the screen.
4. Copy the coordinates exactly as shown, including all decimals.

Your coordinates may look like this:
Google Maps: 33.7716913, -118.1363491
Apple Maps: 33.77074 N, 118.13497 W

If you’re unsure or can’t find the coordinates, don’t worry. Send the photo with the best location description you can, and we’ll help fill in the details.

Yes. You’re welcome to submit multiple trash hotspot observations over time, or multiple photos from different locations. Just be sure each location is clearly described.

You can always reach us at info@algalita.org.