The biggest threat to the nearly 200 species of birds, including several endangered species, in Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach is the trash that flows there through the storm drain system. It is unsightly and dangerous to the 13 different habitats and 21 distinct plant communities supporting life at the estuary.

Edison International employees and their families, along with other groups of volunteers, spent a beautiful Saturday morning knee-deep in the wetlands of the Newport Beach estuary at a cleanup hosted by the nonprofit Inside the Outdoors Foundation.

The scheduled cleanup of the Upper Newport Bay estuary was planned as part of a day of service for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday two weeks earlier. Heavy rainstorms across California delayed the event but also provided a perfect opportunity to put volunteers to work immediately after the storm drain system brought an array of trash and debris into the estuary.

Edison International has been a longstanding partner of Inside the Outdoors Foundation since 2017, providing over $60,000 to support the “Traveling Scientist” program, which gives 5th through 12th graders access to ecological education experiences and locally relevant environmental lessons such as renewable power and resources, conservation and clean air.

Black tarp covered some areas of underwater habitats in the estuary, full of propagating native plants, as well as areas sectioned off by PVC pipes to protect birds’ nests and eggs. Teams of dedicated volunteers carefully navigated the uneven, muddy terrain to help restore the beauty of the bay by removing over 70 bags of trash and recyclables, including pallets, furniture parts, storage boxes and a street sign.

While volunteers in Orange County helped restore one of the few remaining undeveloped wetlands on the California coast, a number of Edison employees also recently pitched in to help remove graffiti in another part of Southern California Edison's service area. Since 2016, Edison has partnered with the nonprofit Compton Initiative, contributing a total of $35,000 to host volunteer beautification activities to help restore the Compton neighborhoods by painting homes, schools, churches and communal spaces, as well as painting murals.

Here is a photo essay highlighting the recent events:

UPPER NEWPORT BAY

COMPTON INITIATIVE

For more about Edison's philanthropic efforts, visit edison.com/community.