Lake Mead National Recreation Area will again participate in the Great American Cleanup with a major cleanup scheduled at Government Wash on Saturday, March 24 at 9 a.m.

Volunteers are being sought from throughout the park and the Las Vegas Valley area; businesses interested in supporting the cleanup are also needed.

“Sponsored by the Keep America Beautiful Corporation, the Great American Cleanup is a year-round effort at keeping the areas we live, work and play in as clean as possible,” said cleanup coordinator, Shannon Swann, Lake Mean NRA health officer.

The Great American Cleanup traditionally starts in March and runs through May. Lake Mead NRA centers their effort around a major cleanup within the park in March, with as many additional cleanups as possible throughout the year.

“All cleanup efforts will be registered and credited to our cleanup effort. You don’t even have to cleanup Lake Mead,” says Swann. “There are only two registered cleanups in the state of Nevada and the one at Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the only one in southern Nevada. So, if you clean up a wash in west Las Vegas or a trail in Red Rock or Valley of Fire, your contribution can go to the overall Great American Cleanup 2001.”

Last year more than 200 volunteers from Boulder City, Henderson and Las Vegas filled in excess of 900, 32-gallon plastic bags during the Great American Cleanup at Las Vegas Bay Marina. This year the effort has shifted to Government Wash, located near mile marker 5.8 on the Northshore Road. Government Wash is an active boat launch ramp and campground.

“This is only one of many cleanups at Lake Mead NRA each year,” said Bill Dickinson, superintendent of the recreation area. “Our vision of being the premier inland water recreation area in the west is punctuated by our desire to be litter-free. The involvement of volunteers and groups who make these cleanups possible and the care and concern of our visitors are a step in the right direction to achieve our vision.”

The Great American Cleanup is an annual, sponsored event, of Keep American Beautiful, Inc., a non-profit organization whose network of local, state and international affiliate programs educates individuals about litter prevention. National sponsors for the Great American Cleanup include: GAIN, Green Forest Recycled Paper Products from Georgia-Pacific, Pepsi Cola Co., Wm. J. Wrigley Co. and Yard-Man by MTD. Retail sponsors include Hy-Vee, Inc., The Kroger Company and Publix Super Markets, Inc. In addition, educational partners are America Online, Scrap Tire Management Council and Songmasters – The American Road.

For further information, please contact:

Bert Byers
Public Affairs Officer
Lake Mead NRA

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