Scuba One and Riverdale Ambulance participate in Coastal Cleanup
By MARIE J. SEIDEL
Scuba One, based in Bismarck, along with Riverdale Ambulance, co-sponsored a 'Coastal Cleanup' on September 5. The area targeted was the face of the Garrison Dam - picking up litter which was in the grass and the rocks.
"This is our second year cleaning at the face of the dam," stated Randy Kraft-owner/master instructor of Scuba One of Bismarck. "I am happy to see the number of volunteers we have here today-considering the weather. This is an international program, organized by the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC). It is the world's largest cleanup of beaches, oceans and waterways."
The fifteen volunteers were from Minot, Bismarck, Gladstone and Riverdale. They joined citizens worldwide who picked up millions of pounds of debris from more than 4,500 beaches, lakeshores, river banks and even underwater sites. This year's cleanup involved volunteers in 54 U.S. states and territories and more than 80 countries.
Since it inception, the Coastal Cleanup, which began in 1987, has grown. Last year, nearly 160,000 volunteers cleaned up more than three million pounds of trash at over 3,000 sites, covering close to 7,000 miles of coastline.
"International Coastal cleanup is important because 'human hands and a human face lie behind each piece of garbage that enters the marine environment," Kraft said. "The responsibility for this worldwide problem does not belong solely to shipping companies, fishing fleets and governments, because ultimately someone has thrown that trash overboard, into the street, down the toilet or into the storm drain. People are the problem, but through the International Coastal cleanup, people are also the solutions. The next time you are thinking of throwing something into the environment-stop and think of the mess it creates and the many volunteers who participate in cleanup."
Kraft went on to say, "this volunteer group picked up about 35 bags of trash," "and permission from the Sakakawea State Park, allowed us to put the trash in their dumpsters, for which we are thankful."
If anyone is interested in helping with the worthwhile project, they can contact Kraft at Scuba One-their toll free number is 1-800-454-DIVE(3483).
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