~International Coastal Cleanup volunteer participation helps keep Florida oceans and sea life healthy~

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist proclaimed September as International Coastal Cleanup Month and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is celebrating with activities at various state parks and aquatic preserves on Saturday, September 19, 2009. Available for the public, the volunteer events provide an opportunity to help protect Florida beaches and coastlines.

“By participating in International Coastal Cleanup Day both Floridians and visitors can help protect and improve the state’s beaches which attract millions of people to Florida’s beautiful coastlines each year,” said DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Bob Ballard. “I commend each volunteer for their environmental stewardship and commitment to preserving Florida’s natural resources.”

Sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy, the International Coastal Cleanup is a worldwide annual effort to clean and protect the environment through debris removal. The effort is the world’s largest organized marine cleanup, collecting millions of pounds of debris from inland roadsides, coastal areas, lakes and rivers. Volunteers also collect valuable data that is later used to educate the public.

Last year nearly 400,000 volunteers from 100 countries and 42 states cleared more than 6.8 million pounds of trash from oceans and waterways.  Last year in the state of Florida more than 32,000 volunteers from 43 counties collected more than 416,000 pounds of trash.

DEP invites the public to participate in the cleanup at the following events:

Central District
North Peninsula State Park
Saturday, September 19, 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Hosted by the Volusia County Environmental Management. Participants are encouraged to bring used, plastic shopping bags to separate recyclables from trash. Drinking water, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable clothing are recommended. For more information, contact Terri Newmans at (386) 517-2086.

Northeast District
Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve (Two Locations)
Saturday, September 19, 2009, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Trash bags, gloves, and water will be provided at check-in. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen and comfortable clothes. For more information, contact Angie Golubovich before the cleanup day at (904) 823-4500 or contact Linda Krepp on the day of the event at (904) 823-4500.

• GTM Research Reserve Environmental Learning Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach.
• GTM Research Reserve Marineland Office, 9741 Ocean Shore Boulevard, St. Augustine.

Northwest District
Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park
Saturday, September 19, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Drinking water, sunscreen, bug spray, gloves and appropriate clothing are recommended. For more information, contact Melody Sapp at (850) 927-2111.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Saturday, September 19, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

All ages are welcome to participate in this beach clean-up sponsored by the Walton County Tourist Development Council. Please park at the day-use area off Highway 30A and take the tram to the beach. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen and comfortable clothes. For more information, contact Leda Suydan at (850) 267-0299.

Appalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
Saturday, September 19, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve is partnering with the Apalachicola Riverkeeper organization to provide volunteers an opportunity to clean up different beaches in Franklin County. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen and comfortable clothes. For more information on locations, contact Rosalyn Kilcollins at (850) 653-8063.

Southeast District
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
Saturday, September 19, 8:00 a.m. – noon

Sponsored by Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful. Bottled water, gloves and trash bags will be provided for all volunteers. Participants are encouraged to wear sunscreen and comfortable clothes. For more information, contact Art Carton at (561) 624-6970.

John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. – noon

Participants please register at the Marina Pavilion; located at the boat ramp at 9 a.m. T-shirts will be given to the first 100 participants. Drinking water, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable clothing are recommended. For more information, contact Carmelo Duesler at (954) 924-3859.

Coral Reef Conservation Program (Three Locations)
Saturday, September 19, 8:00 a.m. – noon

Participants are encouraged to bring drinking water, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and to wear comfortable clothing.

• Pelican Harbor Marina, Miami-Dade County
  For more information, contact Christopher Boykin at (305) 795-1222.
• Southern Boulevard Causeway/ Lake Worth Lagoon Sanctuary Islands, Palm Beach County
  For more information, contact Leigh-Ann Dawes at (561) 681-6714.
• Jensen Beach, Martin County
• For more information, contact Christopher Boykin at (305) 795-1222.

Southwest District
Hillsborough River State Park
Saturday, September 19, 8:30 a.m. – noon

Hosted by Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful. Drinking water, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable clothing are recommended. For more information, contact Patrick Potts at (813) 987-6870.

South District
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Saturday, September 19, 8:00 a.m. – noon

Volunteers are invited to walk the beach, picnic areas, maritime hammock and mangrove edges to help clean up trash. Volunteers are welcome to bring boats, canoes and kayaks to help pick up trash in the back bays. Divers are welcome to bring diving equipment to help clean off the hard bottom reef. Drinking water, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and appropriate clothing are recommended. For more information, contact Carolyn Shaw at (239) 597-6196.

For more information about the International Coastal Cleanup, visit www.coastalcleanup.org. To view the Governor’s Proclamation, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2009/files/cstl_clnup.pdf.

For more information on DEP’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal.

To learn more about Florida’s state parks, visit www.floridastateparks.org.