February 11, 2002
For Immediate Release
Bert Byers 702-293-8947
berton_byers@NPS.gov

Lake Mead seeks volunteers for 3rd annual 'Great American Cleanup'

For the third consecutive year, Lake Mead National Recreation Area seeks citizen volunteers to assist with Great American Cleanup of Southern Nevada, March 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at Boulder Beach.

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

Shannon Swann, Lake Mean NRA health officer, is the overall coordinator for the cleanup. "This is our third year and we have selected yet another location in order to get the greatest benefit of the volunteers."

Previously the cleanup centered on Las Vegas Bay Marina and last year at Government Wash.

Boulder Beach is the focal point of beach activity as well as home to the special events beach. It is located in proximity to the Lake Mead Trailer Village and Lake Mead Lodge. During the summer months it is easily the busiest location within the recreation area.

"Boulder Beach is the icon of Lake Mead," said Swann. "People all over the country know Lake Mead because of Boulder Beach and I feel we have a responsibility to keep this 148-acre piece of land as beautiful as nature intended it to be."

Boulder Beach is within the Lake Mead NRA, approximately two miles north of the Alan Bible Visitor Center located at U.S. 93 and Lakeshore Road.

"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 Swann.

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.

"We register all groups coming into the park for a cleanup and their efforts are credited to the overall cleanup." says Swann. "The Great American Cleanup keeps track of all organized cleanups and they report only two in the state of Nevada. So, if you or your group does any sort of formal cleanup anywhere is Southern Nevada, your contribution can go to the overall Great American Cleanup 2002."

Last year nearly 100 volunteers from Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas and local Boy Scout groups filled more than 450, 32-gallon plastic bags during the Great American Cleanup at Government Wash.

"You only get one chance to make a good first impression," said Bill Dickinson, superintendent of Lake Mead NRA, "and we hope our efforts at Boulder Beach will do just that for the two-million visitors that pass Boulder Beach each year.

"The vision of the park management is to be the best in the west and a clean beach is only one of many efforts initiated by the park to enhance the visitor experience when they visit Lake Mead NRA," he added.

"Volunteers do not need to register," said Swann, "just show up, preferably with gloves and water, the cleanup can be dirty and the desert can be hot."

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: Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund, Film-Gard© Plastic Sheeting, GAIN© Laundry Detergent, Green Forest Paper Products from Georgia-Pacific Corp., Pepsi-Cola Co., Ruffies© Trash Bags, The Home Depot©, Target Corp., Troy-Bilt© and Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. Educational partners include: America Online, Rubber Mfg. Assn. and Songmasters – The American Road.