The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday invited the public to join them and partners to clean up and improve the Lake Erie watershed by participating in the Pennsylvania Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup on September 19, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.

Through this annual event, more than 13,916 dedicated volunteers have removed more than 115,033 pounds of debris and trash from the Lake Erie shoreline and watershed during the past twelve years.

“This is the 13th annual cleanup along the Lake Erie shoreline and tributaries,” DEP Northwest Regional Director John Guth said. “Past events have been so successful and so well-attended that this year we’ve added newer sites in The City of Erie and the Edinboro area.”

“We’re looking forward to another strong volunteer turnout to help us make the event another huge success,” continued Guth.

This year’s effort will focus on 17 sites along the Lake Erie shoreline, from Raccoon Creek in western Erie County to the North East Marina, 20 Mile Creek and Freeport Beach on the eastern end of the county.

Recent sites have been added in Edinboro Borough and The City of Erie and will include; Edinboro University; and Mallory Run, the outlet of Edinboro Lake and the East Avenue Boat Launch.

“The local cleanup effort is a volunteer-driven event, and we thank each and every one of them for their ongoing support and commitment to a clean environment in the Erie County area,” DEP Coastal Resources Management, Environmental Planner, Jake Moore said. He has coordinated the cleanup for the past several years.

International Coastal Cleanup, the oldest and largest volunteer project of its kind, is celebrating its 29th anniversary this year. Since 2003, DEP’s Coastal Resources Management program has been the main sponsor of the Pennsylvania-Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup.

To volunteer or view the Erie ICC statistics, visit the Pennsylvania Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup webpage.  Click Here to look for other International Coastal Cleanup events around the state coordinated by Keep PA Beautiful.

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