The “Keep Mentor Beautiful” program will be hosting a waterway clean-up on Saturday, September 17th, September 24th and October 1st at the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina as a part of Ohio Coastweeks 2016 International Coastal Cleanups.
Coastweeks is Ohio’s contribution to an international celebration of our waters and shorelines held in our 50 States and around the world. Ohio’s program focuses on the theme, “I Can Help Lake Erie”.
Volunteers will be participating in a waterway cleanup. A tally of the collected debris will be recorded onto data cards and then submitted to the Ocean Conservancy. This data has been effective in yielding many state, federal and international laws relating to water quality and pollution prevention.
Cleanups are perhaps the most beneficial and educational component of Coastweeks. This hands-on program helps emphasize the importance of protecting Lake Erie’s ecosystem. Coastweeks projects provide an excellent opportunity for community service for local groups.
Volunteers will meet at the park office at 8:30 AM. They will sign in, form into teams of up to six, receive data reporting cards, and then be assigned cleanup area. Teams are usually done by 11:00 AM.
Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather as it can be cooler by the lake, and to wear sturdy shoes and gloves. If you or your group is unavailable on the designated dates, another date or time can be scheduled to accommodate your group.
This Ohio Coastweeks program is sponsored in part by the National and International Ocean Conservancy, the Lake Erie Commission, Great Lakes.org, the City of Mentor and “The Keep Mentor Beautiful” program.
Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina is located at 8365 Harbor Drive in Mentor.
For additional information or to register, please contact Bonnie Rice at rice@cityofmentor.com or call 440-974-5780.