Annual Coast Cleanup Scheduled for April 21

Date: March 15, 2007
Contact: Barb Maynes, Olympic NP, 360-565-3005
Contact: Robert Steelquist, Olympic Coast NMS, 360-457-6622, ext. 19

The eighth annual Olympic Coast Cleanup will be held this year on Saturday, April 21. Organized by volunteer Jan Klippert, this event brings hundreds of volunteers each year to remove debris from the beaches of Olympic National Park, the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and other sections of the Olympic Coast. Marine debris poses a variety of threats to wildlife, in addition to detracting from the beauty of the coast. 

"The work of cleanup volunteers is critical to protecting this national treasure and an opportunity for people to connect to this wild and remote place” said Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent Carol Bernthal.

Volunteers help with a wide range of tasks, from picking up trash at popular day use beaches to backpacking to remote beaches, to carrying filled trash bags from beach to parking lot, to greeting and orienting volunteers at park ranger stations.

Volunteers are asked to carry debris to the nearest trailhead or parking lot, rather than piling it in debris caches along the coast. Bungee cords or rope can be helpful in securing debris onto backpacks.

“Our aim is to completely remove marine debris from the beach,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner. “Piles of debris left on or near beaches can be disturbed by storms or animals and often simply end up back on the beach.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to attend one of the orientation meetings listed below.

Wednesday March 28th, 7:00 p.m.
Olympic National Park Visitor Center
3002 Mount Angeles Road
Port Angeles, Washington

Tuesday April 3rd, 7:00 p.m.
REI Second Floor Meeting Room
222 Yale North
Seattle, Washington

More information is also available at the Olympic Coast Cleanup website at http://www.olympiccoastcleanup.us or by contacting cleanup organizer Jan Klippert at [phone].

Volunteers planning to camp overnight along park beaches must have a wilderness use permit and should contact the Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (WIC) at [phone] for trip planning information and permits. 

The WIC is staffed intermittently until April 1, when it will be open daily. Wilderness and coastal hiking information can also be found at the park’s website.