Trash

Each September, there is a “clean-up day” here at Lodi Lake, as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day. In 2024, 165 volunteers collected over 200 pounds of trash and recyclables from Lodi Lake. The greatest concerns were the hundreds of cigarette butts and thousands of plastic confetti pieces left behind in picnic areas. These tiny bits of plastic don’t just pollute the area — they can break down into microplastics that contaminate water, be injested by wildlife and enter the food chain. County officials report that 2,600 tons of trash accumulate annually in the community, costing taxpayers nearly $1.3 million each year to clear.

Although the cleanup is a great event, there’s no funding to maintain trash cans around the lake, and the cleanup is limited to one day a year. We encourage you to "pack it in, pack it out" when it comes to your trash and help keep the lake clean year-round and the wildife healthy and strong. Get involved when cleanup day comes around, or bring a bag and gloves and clean up trash on your own or as a school outing. Every piece of trash you pick up makes a difference.