Record the monthly debris transect along Imperial Beach's dry upper shore (2026-07-18)

Imperial Beach has endured years of ocean-water closures from the cross-border sewage crisis, and each storm also strands plastic and debris lines on the sand. A monthly stand-off transect from the dry upper beach and esplanade — counting and photographing debris without touching it — builds the density record cleanup agencies schedule against. Standard: NOAA marine debris shoreline survey method and CWA impaired-waters context — SDG 14. Proof: Segment tallies with photos Method (NOAA marine debris shoreline survey method and CWA impaired-waters context — SDG 14.): 1. Walk fixed transect segments on the dry upper beach and public esplanade only. 2. Count and categorize visible debris per segment on the tally sheet without touching any item. 3. Photograph each segment's debris line with a landmark in frame. 4. Upload tallies and photos with GPS and date. Done when: Segment tallies with photos

Where

Public esplanade and dry upper beach, Seacoast Dr near Palm Ave, Imperial Beach, CA 91932

Pay

$80 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

Segment tallies with photos

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-08-17

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 60–120 minutes. Method of record: NOAA coastal habitat (eelgrass / salt marsh) extent + condition

Bring

• tide table
• GPS phone
• quadrat frame
• measuring tape
• boots/waders
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Check the tide table; plan to work the low tide; tell someone your plan and return time.
2. 2. Navigate to the habitat edge; record GPS waypoints along the patch/edge.
3. 3. Photograph the meadow/marsh at low tide.
4. 4. Record shoot/stem density per quadrat and estimate patch extent (or edge scarp height for marsh).
5. 5. Note condition (epiphytes, dieback, wrack) and adjacent land use/armoring.
6. 6. Enter density, extent, condition, GPS, photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Soft mud / rising tide -> stop and retreat; safety over data.
• Edge retreat or heavy dieback observed -> flag for living-shoreline / protection planning.

What counts as done

• Density (shoots/stems per quadrat) recorded
• Patch extent or edge position recorded via GPS
• Condition + adjacent-use note recorded
• Low-tide photos + GPS waypoints

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.