Washington CoastSavers is pleased to announce that registration is open for participating in the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 16. Volunteers can select from dozens of beaches to clean along the outer coast, the Olympic Peninsula, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To help event organizers prepare for your participation, see www.coastsavers.org where you will find information about how and to register, when to check-in, what beaches will be cleaned and where to camp. Of special note, this year the Strait beaches will be cleaned in the morning and the outer coastal beaches will be cleaned in the afternoon due to the tides.
Washington CoastSavers is an alliance of partners and volunteers dedicated to keeping the state’s beaches clean of marine debris. Founding members of CoastSavers include representatives from the Lions Club International, Discover Your Northwest, Surfrider Foundation, Grass Roots Garbage Gang, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park, and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Since 2007, their efforts have removed tens of tons of trash off the beach during the Washington Coast Cleanup which occurs in April every Earth Day weekend and the International Coastal Cleanup which is every third Saturday in September.
The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is a global cleanup effort organized by the Ocean Conservancy with coordinators in approximately one hundred countries and 36 states. Washington CoastSavers serve as local cleanup coordinators in Washington State. Trash found at ICC events will be counted and included in an annual index of global marine debris to be released in 2018. Last year, nearly 800,000 volunteers collected over 18 million pounds of trash from shorelines around the world. The data gathered at ICC events provides information that can inform policy solutions and identify target areas where preventative solutions will make the biggest difference. ICC events also raise awareness of the pervasive marine debris issue and bring together people and organizations who care about the health of our waterways.
To participate in the International Coastal Cleanup on the outer coast, see www.coastsavers.org where you will find information about how to register, what beaches will be cleaned, where to camp and special offers for cleanup volunteers. Front country camping in Olympic National Park at Kalaloch, Mora and Ozette campgrounds is comped for registered volunteers Friday and Saturday night. Backcountry camping is comped Friday and Saturday night at park beaches. If people are backpacking, they will need to register with the WIC and bring their Volunteer agreement forms with them all filled out if possible. Free camping is also available at Hobuck Campground for those cleaning the beaches near Neah Bay. Surfrider Foundation chapters are providing food and refreshments at multiple locations, see website for details.
