It’s that time of year again: On Sept. 17, Californians will join hundreds of thousands of participants worldwide in clearing trash and debris from beaches and other waterways as part of the annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Last year, 1,300 local volunteers cleared nearly 5,110 pounds of debris from 28 Santa Barbara County beaches and creeks.
This year, the event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at dozens of sites throughout the county, including the Guadalupe Dunes and Lake
Cachuma in the North County area. Volunteers are encouraged to bring buckets and reusable gloves, such as gardening gloves, to help conserve supplies.
“Everyday actions impact the health and well being of our oceans, waterways, and the animals that live in those environments,” event officials said in a press release. “Coastal Cleanup Day demonstrates that people who care can have a positive impact on their environment. Also, information collected from Coastal Cleanup Day is later analyzed by the Ocean Conservancy to aid with legislation protecting our coast and waterways.”
To volunteer, just show up at one of the beach or creek sites listed. A site captain will provide instructions and supplies.
For more information or to register early, visit LessIsMore.org/coast or call 882-3600.
This article appears in Sep 8-15, 2011.
