Progress made in clearing illegal boats from Oakland Estuary

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- When we first hit the water with Captain Ken Mannshardt and community organizer Mary Spicer earlier this year, the Oakland Estuary near Jack London Square looked like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. Wrecked and abandoned boats littered the shoreline, or were sunken below the surface. Nonprofits including the East Bay Rowing Club and Mary Spicer's group, I-heart-Oakland-Alameda-Estuary, have been fighting for years to get the mess cleaned up.

But finally, they're celebrating at least a partial victory. The issue came to a head several weeks ago, when organizers of a youth rowing program accused several boats of blocking dock access.

"It was chaotic. Would be one word for it. When you have 38 boats out there, and then you have about three that are anchored out onto your docks, it made it really challenging to get people on the water. And we're really focused on getting the people of Oakland, their youth and our retired individuals out there on the water," says Heather Krakora, executive director of the rowing club.

Oakland police had already begun cracking down on unauthorized liveaboards. Boats illegally anchored near the Jack London Aquatic Center. Besides the liveaboards, crews have also removed multiple wrecks from the shoreline, hauling them away from the estuary.

"I'm so grateful that the Jack Cove is empty, that the illegally anchored boats are gone for now," says Spicer.

MORE: Oakland could soon face fines for illegally docked boats in estuary as efforts to clear it underway

But they say there is a lot more work to do. Mary Spicer's group has mapped more than 40 sunken boats, submerged in the Estuary. Some potentially leaking oil or sewage. The group helped secure a federal grant... which is being used to raise approximately 16 of the wrecks. An expensive salvage operation that's expected to begin in September.

"I know that we're all excited to see those 16 large boats get lifted from the bottom of the estuary and pulled away on a large crane. So, we're super stoked about that. And we really do believe that the port and the city want to actually create some real long-term solutions to stop this," says Spicer.

But former Harbor Master Brock de Lappe says a key will be continued funding and support for marine police patrols. Arguing that it's far cheaper to enforce laws against anchoring out, than it is to salvage dozens of boats once they're sunk in the estuary.

"It's simply a matter of the city settings, priorities. The marine patrol units. When they're allowed to go out with the proper staffing, are extremely efficient. They're extremely functional. They can do the job. They simply have to be supported to be able to get out and do the job," de Lappe says.

MORE: Illegally docked boats, debris impacting East Bay youth rowing group as summer camp begins

And they believe cleaning up the estuary is a key piece of revitalizing Jack London Square and the surrounding area.

"Right now, the cove is open, and you look at it, and you're like, wow, I can actually teach people how to row out here safely," says Krakora.

Mary Spicer couldn't agree more.

"Truly, our community 100% wants a thriving shoreline," she adds.

Oakland has hired Lind Marine, an expert salvage company to raise the sunken boats.