International Coastal Clean Up Day Sept. 17

August 22, 2016

intrnationalcoastalcleanupFind a location near you and help clean up our Northwest Florida waterways.

Santa Rosa Beach

Blue Mountain Beach –
Surfrider Foundation’s Emerald Coast chapter invites you to participate in the world’s biggest beach cleanup – the International Coastal Cleanup. Last year, more than 800,000 volunteers around the word collected more than 18 million pounds of trash. Join us and protect what you love.

Surfriders will be meeting from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Blue Mountain Beach access in Santa Rosa Beach.

Friends of South Walton Sea Turtles and the Tourist Development Council will be hosting a clean up at the following regional beach accesses:
9-11 a.m. – Miramar Beach, Ed Waline, Santa Clar, Inlet Beach
2-4 p.m. – Grayton Beach State Park, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Lake Powell – Panama City Beach

The Lake Powell Community Alliance (LPCA) together with the St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association (RMA), Friends of Camp Helen State Park, Bay County Audubon and local neighborhoods invite you to participate in a community effort to cleanup Lake Powell.  Sign-in will begin promptly at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 17th at the Lake Powell Park [boat ramp behind Publix] or at Camp Helen State Park.  The cleanup will last until noon. After the cleanup, learn about conservation efforts of the LPCA, RMA (aka St. Andrew Bay Watch), Bay County Audubon, Turtle Watch and other groups at their ‘Eco-booths’ in Lake Powell Park.  Free t-shirts will be given to the first 75 volunteers to register! Participate in a ‘Chance Drawing’ to win some very nice prizes!

In our little corner of the earth, we have a very unique and precious resource.  LAKE POWELL was designated an Outstanding Florida Waterway in 1991. It is among the largest of the rare Coastal Dune Lakes which occur in only a few places around the world. Lake Powell is known for its beauty and biodiversity, as well as its exceptional recreational and educational opportunities.  The Lake Powell Community Alliance (LPCA) is dedicated to protecting this natural resource.

This is a great opportunity to bring our community together for a common cause!  Individuals and teams are welcome. Participants will be given a choice of areas to clean up with access by walking, wading, boating, or paddling. So JOIN the TEAM KEEP it CLEAN!

What to bring: closed-toed shoes, hat, sunscreen, ‘grabber’, work gloves, water, and snacks. Please consider bringing your boat, canoe, kayak or paddleboard and join the armada of cleanup crews. If you do bring your watercraft, please bring required life jackets, whistle, and safety devices.

Provided: vinyl gloves, garbage bags, data cards, coffee and donuts, water, and snacks.

SCHEDULE
8:00 – 9:00 am – Sign-in and orientation
9:00 – 12:00 noon – Lake cleanup
12:00 – Group photo
12:15 – Chance drawing

St. Andrews State Park- Panama City Beach

St. Andrews State Park and the Friends of St. Andrews State Park, Inc. will be hosting a coastal cleanup from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Join volunteers of all ages for this national celebration of public lands. Public Lands Day serves to recognize the importance of preserving precious natural resources through restoration and cleanup activities, while promoting environmental stewardship and awareness. Volunteers will assist this nationwide effort by cleaning up the Gulf and Bayside beaches, including Shell Island. Participants should bring sunscreen, re-usable water bottle, bug spray, and comfortable shoes. Join the effort by land or by sea. If scuba certified bring your dive gear and assist the efforts underwater.

Meet at the Jetties Pavilions or Boat Ramp Picnic Area.

St. Andrews State Park is located at 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City Beach, FL (map)

Lower Econfina Creek – Youngstown

The Florida Trail Panhandle Chapter will be hosting a clean up of the Lower Econfina Creek from 9 a.m. – 12 Noon.

Bring your own boat, or rent one at the Econfina Livery. We will paddle/float the Econfina from the Hwy 20 canoe launch, near Pitt Springs, and take out at the Hwy 388 bridge (approximately six miles). It’s about a three hour trip, and we will pick up as many cans and bottles as we can find. The person who collects the most will win an exciting prize! This will be a leisurely paddle, with some downed trees and snags to add excitement. Capsizing is a possibility, so be prepared with your required personal flotation device and a whistle.

Please bring drinking water, snacks/lunch, bug spray, sun screen, work gloves, pick up tools, and trash bags.

Meet at the Econfina Creek Canoe Launch, Hwy 20, Youngstown, FL (map)