Everyone enjoys going the beach -- the crashing waves, the sun, the wind, the sand, the raw power of nature. It can be relaxing, invigorating, romantic, soothing, inspiring or just plain fun. Whatever you get from a visit to the beach is your own thing. The trouble is some people leave behind more than footprints in the sand; they leave LITTER. Please help out where you can by joining one of the organized cleanups (or pick up some trash on your regular beach walk, or pick up one piece on your way back from surfing - every little bit helps). The bottom line is there is a small group of people who leave the large majority of the trash.


Montara State Beach is generally a pretty clean beach, we would like to see it completely litter free, which is a nice dream. The reality is that there is a certain amount of cleaning up after visitors that must be done. Here are some suggestions as to how you can help:


  2. 1.Do your own thing, take a trash bag and gloves or one of those plastic grabbers with you on your visit and pick up some trash (picking up just one plastic bottle cap and sticking it in your pocket can save a seal or seabird from maybe choking to death if they swallowed it, mistaking it for food).


  4. 2.Join an organized Beach Clean-up (Save Our Shores, and The Surfrider Foundation organize regular clean-ups, and well as the regular Montara Beach Coalition clean ups.


  6. 3.If you see anyone drop or leave trash, pick it up for them.


  8. 4.If you see someone carving graffiti into the rocks or cliff face, ask them to stop, it's ugly to look at and erodes the cliff face.


  10. 5.Always report beach fires to the Fire Department, they are not allowed on State Beaches and they often generate trash, broken glass and loose nails in the sand. A report released by a Parks, Beaches and Recreation Committee found open fires have produced more than 7 million nails, 50 tons of scrap metal and almost 100 tons of broken glass and syringes. The nails come from the most popular item burned on the beach: pallets.


  12. 6.Spread the word, "Pack Your Trash!"