Date: April 11, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Barb Maynes (360) 565-3005
Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to enjoy and protect Washington's beaches by participating in the Washington Coast Cleanup on Saturday, April 26. Hundreds of volunteers are expected to join the effort, all working towards the common goal of making Washington's beaches safer, healthier and more beautiful by collecting and removing trash and marine debris.
"Everyone is invited to be a CoastSaver by joining us on April 26 for the Washington Coast Cleanup," said David Lindau, CoastSavers Program Coordinator for the Washington Clean Coast Alliance. "This event will span the state's Pacific Coast from Cape Disappointment to Neah Bay, giving anyone who loves Washington's coast the chance to be a CoastSaver."
Volunteers are invited to help with a wide range of tasks, from picking up trash along beaches, to carrying debris-filled trash bags from beach to parking lot at some beaches, or at other beaches, using a four-wheel drive vehicle to pick up filled bags, to greeting and orienting volunteers, to helping indoors with administrative tasks. To sign up and to learn more, people should visit the CoastSavers website at http://www.coastsavers.org.
Volunteers like the late Jan Klippert, founder of the Olympic Coast Cleanup, the Long Beach Peninsula's Grass Roots Garbage Gang and the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association have established long and successful traditions of cleaning marine debris off Washington's beaches. Formed earlier this year, the Washington Clean Coast Alliance aims to increase public awareness of the threats and causes of marine debris and will continue - and expand upon - the many beach cleanup events that happen each year along Washington's coast.
"Marine debris is a serious threat to ocean and coastal wildlife and detracts from the beauty of our coastline," said Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Carol Bernthal. "We appreciate the work and dedication of every volunteer CoastSaver."
Olympic National Park Acting Superintendent Sue McGill added, "After only a few short months, the Washington Clean Coast Alliance has developed into a strong and effective partnership. We're very pleased to have so many diverse groups working together to combat marine debris, not only along the Olympic National Park coast but along all of the state's ocean beaches."
The Washington Coast Cleanup is sponsored by the Washington Clean Coast Alliance, a partnership of eight founding members including the Grass Roots Garbage Gang, Lions Club International, Northwest Interpretive Association, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park, Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, Surfrider Foundation and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
For more information and to sign up for the Washington Coast Cleanup, visit the Washington Clean Coast Alliance website at http://www.coastsavers.org.
-- www.CoastSavers.org -- |
