Volunteer for September 19 Beach Clean Up

Take part in a worldwide shoreline clean-up on September 19 as part of the ODEAB’s ongoing efforts to keep our beach “barefoot friendly.” Volunteers will meet at 9:30 a.m. where Diana Rd. runs into Shore Dr. The event will run until 11:30 a.m.

During the clean-up, participants will be divided into teams along the beach, and will tally the types of garbage collected. All supplies will be provided. The tallies are then logged into the Alliance for the Great Lake's on-line database, which provides valuable information on where garbage might be coming from; and how we can educate people not to litter the beach and/or Lake Michigan and its tributaries.

The ODEAB has been participating in the International Coastal Clean-up Day, organized by the Ocean Conservancy, for approximately six years. Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois efforts are coordinated for the Conservancy by the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes.

During the annual event in 2008, thousands of pounds of trash were cleared by more than 500 volunteers in Indiana (note: 125 of these volunteers came from Ogden Dunes alone!).

According to the Alliance, the top three items removed in 2008 included cigarette filters (175,259; food wrappers and containers (45,225); and finally, caps and lids (44,269). In addition to litter pick-up and monitoring, Adopt-a-Beach™ teams and volunteers collect valuable data on our beaches through water quality testing and science-based beach observations. This information is used on a site-by-site basis to improve beach conditions.

To entice families to participate, the ODEAB will hold a drawing for five free registrations for Family Night on the Beach to be held that same night – valued at more than $12 each.

This effort builds on the beach clean-up held on August 22nd that attracted 50 volunteers who picked up more than 130 lbs. of waste from the beach (see next article). The data will provide metrics and information to be used for a pollution prevention program the ODEAB would like to roll out next summer.

Show your love for the beach and Lake Michigan – and make a difference by volunteering the morning on September 19. If you know now that you plan to be there, please send an email to Susan MiHalo at spsmodin@verizon.net.