For Immediate Release: Sept. 24, 2010
Contact: Lauren Thompson, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, (228) 523-4053.
Gov. Barbour Declares Oct. 16 Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Day
Volunteers in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties are needed for the 22nd annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup to be held from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 16, in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup—the world’s largest volunteer cleanup effort on behalf of the marine environment. Gov. Haley Barbour recently signed a proclamation in support of the annual event organized by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force.
“This summer, we endured a very strong reminder of how valuable our coast is to all of us,” Governor Haley Barbour said. “A clean, litter-free coastline is vital to the marine wildlife and coastal wetlands, and it’s crucial to the enjoyment of residents and visitors.”
“The 2010 Mississippi Coastal Cleanup will not include the beaches and barrier islands,” Lauren Thompson, state coordinator for the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, said. “Volunteers will focus instead on removing marine debris and litter in areas off the immediate shoreline. Trash travels. Litter tossed upstream makes its way into the Sound and onto our beaches.”
This year the cleanup will focus on inland areas and waters in an effort to avoid disturbing oil spill recovery efforts on the beaches and barrier islands. In addition, the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup has joined forces with Renew Our Rivers to expand the cleanup’s inland efforts. The four-day Renew Our Rivers cleanup event will begin Wednesday, Oct. 13, and will culminate in conjunction with the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Oct. 16.
“Like Coastal Cleanup, our efforts depend on the sheer force of volunteers, which includes our employees, as well as other corporate, community and agency partners,” said Tracy Heggins, a Renew Our Rivers coordinator with Mississippi Power. “Our partnership with Mississippi Coastal Cleanup and others is a natural fit. We all have a common goal to clean more waterways and to better our communities—together we can do that.”
Registration deadline for the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup is Oct. 4. Register online at www.mscoastalcleanup.org, or to obtain a registration form and sign up to volunteer call: 467-9048 in Hancock County; 214-1405 in Harrison County; and 938-6612 in Jackson County.
―MORE―
Gov. Barbour Declares Oct. 16 Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Day—page 2 of 4
On cleanup day, zone captains will be stationed at each cleanup site in bright yellow T-shirts to direct volunteers and give them supplies such as trash bags, data cards to record the debris collected, as well as bottled water compliments of the Beverage Association of Mississippi, and a free eco-friendly tote provided by Chevron Pascagoula Refinery (while supplies last). Following the cleanup, volunteers must present their meal ticket at Courthouse Road Pier parking area on Highway 90 in Gulfport where they will enjoy a free lunch courtesy of the High Cotton Grill from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. only on event day.
During the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup, more than 498,818 volunteers in 108 countries removed more than 7.4 million pounds of debris from the ocean, rivers, lakes and waterways.
“Last year, Mississippi ranked in the Top 10 in the country in number of volunteers.” Thompson said. “In Mississippi, 3,205 volunteers pitched in and removed 23 tons of trash from 66 sites along the shoreline and coastal waterways as part of the 2009 International Coastal Cleanup.”
For more information visit the official Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Web site at www.mscoastalcleanup.org or call the info line at 1-877-BEACH 05 (1-877-232-2405).
Friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Volunteers who are Mississippi residents under age 21 must have their parents sign the registration form and fax or mail it back to participate. Non-Mississippi residents 18 and older are not required to have their parents sign the form. Volunteers will pick up marine debris in all three counties and the barrier islands at 57 designated Coastal Cleanup sites, which include some private sites (private sites not listed).
Designated cleanup areas are as follows:
· Hancock County — 3rd Marsh area; Jourdan River (McLeod Park to Bayou LaCroix); Jourdan River Shores
· Bay St. Louis — Bay Marina; Bay Waveland Yacht Club; Bayou LaCroix (both sides of Hwy 603); Blue Meadow Road Bayou back to Paradise Lane Bridge; Blue Meadow Canals (Fiber, Harrison, etc.); Breath’s and Watts Bayous (Lazy River Estates); Cedar Point Launch; Edwards Bayou and tributaries (at Old Nicholson Road); Joe’s Bayou; Jourdan River Estates (4 canals); Sycamore Street Marsh
· Clermont Harbor — Buccaneer State Park marsh
· Diamondhead — Diamondhead Marina and Canal; Rotten Bayou
· Lakeshore — Bayou Caddy
· Harrison County
· Biloxi — Forrest Avenue Pier; Hiller Park; Keegan Bayou (military assigned); Popp’s Ferry Bridge Boat Launch
· D'Iberville — D'Iberville Boat Launch; Fountain Pier; Tuxachanie Waterway
· Gulfport — Dedeaux Park (off Three Rivers Road); Gulfport Lake (military assigned); James Hill Park; Kremer Landing; Lower Turkey Creek
· Long Beach — Red Creek
· Pass Christian — Wolf River
· Jackson County — Bluff Creek
· Gautier — Gautier City Park; Graveline Road/Shepard State Park; Mary Walker waterways (requires canoe or kayak)
· Moss Point — Bellview Street Boat Launch & Park; Hwy 63 Boat Launch; I-10 Boat Launch
· Ocean Springs — Davis Bayou (Gulf Islands National Seashore); Fort Bayou Boat Launch & Waterway; Graveline Bayou Pier and Boat Launch; Twelve Oaks ―MORE―
Gov. Barbour Declares Oct. 16 Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Day—page 3 of 4
· Pascagoula — I.G. Levy Park, North; Old Spanish Fort; Pascagoula Causeway and River Park
· Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve — Bayou Heron. Volunteers may bring their kayak or canoe. A limited number of canoes are available for use. Volunteers must call 475-7047 and sign up in advance for a canoe.
In Jackson County, there will be a picnic for volunteers at the Estuarine Education Center at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gautier between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. only the day of the event compliments of The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint. Volunteers in Hancock County are invited for hotdogs and drinks starting at 11 a.m. at the Bay St. Louis Depot District, courtesy of the Office of Congressman Gene Taylor, the Bay St. Louis Rotary Club and BB’s Snowballs.
The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup’s planning committee, the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force, is made up of representatives from Ashman & Son, LLC Contractors; Chevron Pascagoula Refinery; City of Biloxi; City of Gulfport; City of Moss Point; City of Ocean Springs; City of Pascagoula; Coastal Rivers; Delbert Hosemann Secretary of State; DMR Marine Patrol; Eco-Tours of South Mississippi; Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; Gulf Islands National Seashore; Hancock County Beautification Committee; Hancock County Board of Supervisors; Hancock County Chamber of Commerce; Hancock County Solid Waste; Harrison County Beautification Commission; Harrison County Board of Supervisors; Harrison County Sand Beach Department; Harrison County Sheriff's Department; Harrison County Utility Authority; Heritage Trails Partnership; Jackson County Board of Supervisors; Jackson County Chamber of Commerce; Jackson County Solid Waste Department; Jackson County 4-H Club; Keep Mississippi Beautiful; Keesler Air Force Base; Mississippi Air National Guard CRTC-Gulfport; Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium; Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service; Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; Mississippi Department of Marine Resources; Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; Mississippi Power; Mississippi State University Coastal Research & Extension Center; Naval Construction Battalion Center; North Gulfport Community Land Trust; Office of Congressman Gene Taylor; Rotary International District 6840; Sea Coast Echo; University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast Research Laboratory; and Waste Management.
Other sponsors include:
SEA TURTLE: BP; Chevron Pascagoula Refinery; High Cotton Grill; Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; Mississippi Department of Marine Resources; Mississippi Power
SHARK: Beverage Association of Mississippi; Cable One Advertising; Delta Sanitation of Mississippi, LLC; Mississippi Media; Ocean Conservancy; The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint; The Sun Herald; Waste Management
DOLPHIN: Allen Beverages Inc.; Coast Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc.; Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Consolidated; Domino's Pizza; Fisher Safety; Gulf Coast Produce; Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Professional Division; Lamar Outdoor Advertising-Mississippi Gulf Coast; Milner Rental Center; Sara Lee; Sysco Foods
COBIA: Biloxi-D’Iberville Press; K99FM, Magic 93.7, 92.5 The Beat and News Radio 104.9; Keep Mississippi Beautiful; Knight Abbey Printing & Direct Mail; Ocean Springs Gazette; Sea Coast Echo; WLOX-TV 13
MULLET: Academy Sports + Outdoors; Ashman & Son, LLC Contractors; BB’s Bar-B-Que & Snak Shak; Cabot Cheese; Coast Electric; The Dive Shop; Fayard & Sons
Lauren Thompson
Public Relations Director
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530
w-228-523-4053
c-228-219-5226
f-228-374-5457
lauren.thompson@dmr.ms.gov
www.dmr.ms.gov |