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| Lake Erie's Stone Laboratory |
TOLEDO, OH - Restoring and maintaining Lake Erie’s valuable natural coastline is the focus of the 2004 Coastweeks observance, Saturday, August 21 through Sunday, September 19, according to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (LEC), which coordinates the Ohio program.
Ohio's Coastweeks is part of a nationwide effort to educate the public about protecting America's coastlines. Beach walks and cleanups, nature programs, and shoreline conferences are examples of the popular activities that take place during Coastweeks. This year's National Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, September 18, and is part of an international effort among 100 countries to clean up coastlines and waterways throughout the world.
Local cleanups going on September 18, include:
- Mill Creek Cleanup and Water Quality Demonstration, 9 a.m., at Mill Creek in Maple Heights
- Maumee Bay State Park Cleanup, 10 a.m., at the park nature center
- Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge cleanup, 9 a.m., at the north end of the Yondota Road in Curtice
- Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve Cleanup, 8 a.m., on the beach
Last year, more than 735 volunteers in Ohio removed nearly 20,000 pounds of trash from beaches and tributaries along 61 miles of Lake Erie shoreline. Food wrappers and beverage cans accounted for the majority of trash collected. Other Coastweeks activities this year include nature walks, a photo contest, kayaking and canoeing and stargazing.
Environmental organizations, schools, libraries, community groups and individuals throughout the Lake Erie region are hosting events for this year’s Coastweeks. For a complete list of the nearly 50 Coastweeks events this year, visit the LEC web site at www.epa.state.oh.us/oleo or call 419-245-2514.
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie's natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promoting economic development of the region. The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency serves as the commission's chairman, while the director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources serves as secretary. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of transportation, health, development and agriculture.
EDITORS NOTE: Please visit www.epa.state.oh.us/oleo for a complete list of Coastweeks events along the Lake Erie coast.