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Student study finds plastics dominate litter trapped at bridge piers and debris dams on Bakersfield’s Lower Kern River
Summary
A student study of litter at four bridges on the Lower Kern River found plastics are the dominant material trapped in debris dams and bridge piers; mean litter mass and material composition varied by site and habitat.
Dana Garcia (CSU Bakersfield graduate student) presented preliminary summer 2025 findings from a study of anthropogenic litter in the Lower Kern River downstream of Bakersfield.
Methods: The study established transects upstream and downstream of four road bridges. Under bridge piers the team identified paired debris dams and non‑debris locations and sampled deposits, drying, categorizing and measuring items by material (plastic, paper/cardboard, metal, wood, etc.) and rigidity (flexible vs rigid).
Findings: Plastics…
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