Celebrate National Estuaries Day by participating
in the Delaware Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 17

DOVER (Sept. 13, 2011) – This Saturday, Sept. 17, as hundreds of volunteers gather on beaches and along waterways statewide from 9 a.m. to noon for the annual Coastal Cleanup, Delaware will also be observing National Estuaries Day – an annual event celebrating estuaries, the vibrant coastal areas where rivers meet the sea.

“The Coastal Cleanup is Delaware’s largest beach cleanup of the year, and having it on the same day as National Estuaries Day is a natural combination,” said Delaware Coastal Cleanup Coordinator Jack Hoban. “Participation is especially important this year, since Hurricane Irene and recent storms and flooding have brought more debris than usual to our beaches and waterways. We are hoping for a big volunteer turnout on Saturday so we can make a big difference in the amount of trash that’s found its way into our estuaries.”

“Estuaries require everyone’s help and hard work to keep them clean and safe,” said Environmental Program Manager Kimberly Cole of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. “And our estuaries give so much back to us. They provide a crucial rest stop for migratory species and critical habitat for a variety of marine plants and animals. They help prevent coastal erosion and play a critical role in the future and health of the oceans. And of course, they are the center of many coastal communities and serve as important recreational destinations.”

For more information about National Estuaries Day, please visit www.estuaries.gov.

For more information about how you can participate in the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, including a list of sites, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/CoastalCleanup, or contact Jack Hoban, Delaware Coastal Cleanup coordinator, at 302-739-9278. In case of postponement due to inclement weather, the rain date is the following Saturday, Sept. 24. If the weather looks doubtful, volunteers are encouraged to check the website before leaving home.

Delaware’s Cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines and lakes by volunteers. The Ocean Conservancy supplies trash bags and data cards. Delaware’s event is co-sponsored by Delmarva Power, which provides t-shirts. Other key sponsors are the Dover-based Playtex Division of Energizer Personal Care, which provides gloves, and Waste Management, which will be hauling trash and recyclables following the Cleanup. DNREC is responsible for organizing the event, recruiting volunteers, distributing supplies, ensuring trash removal and tabulating data. This year, the Delaware Solid Waste Authority donated tan trash bags for recyclables.

Vol. 41, No. 351