The city of Seal Beach on Wednesday, May 13, joined The Ocean Cleanup, county of Los Angeles, and city of Long Beach in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to advance a coordinated regional approach to addressing plastic pollution in the waterways of Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The briefing highlighted progress on key initiatives along the San Gabriel River and Los Angeles River and outlined a collaborative path toward deployment, partnerships, and long-term environmental impact. The event, held at the Aquarium of the Pacific, brought together federal, state, county, and city leaders alongside environmental advocates, funding partners, and community stakeholders to demonstrate regional momentum and collaboration.
San Gabriel River Trash Mitigation Initiative
The execution of the MOU represents the culmination of years of collaboration among regional stakeholders committed to reducing pollution entering the Pacific Ocean through the San Gabriel River system. Stormwater runoff generated throughout the San Gabriel River Watershed carries debris and pollutants downstream through a regional network of channels and waterways before ultimately discharging into the Pacific Ocean and along the Seal Beach coastline. With growing global concern surrounding ocean pollution, the protection of sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems, and approximately 500 tons of beach trash collected along Seal Beach in 2025 alone, the San Gabriel River Trash Mitigation Initiative represents a critical regional effort benefiting the residents of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, as well as the millions of visitors who rely on and enjoy Southern California’s beaches and waterways…