Registration is still open for volunteers to help clean beaches Saturday during the Washington Coast Cleanup.
A particular need is for more volunteers on the Strait of Juan de Fuca beaches between Pillar Point and Bullman Beach, said Jon Schmidt of Sequim, Washington CoastSavers coordinator.
2,000 volunteers hoped for
Registration had grown to 959 volunteers by Wednesday, reported Schmidt, who hopes to see about 2,000 turn out to remove debris from beaches from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Pacific Coast beaches down to the Long Beach Peninsula.
Volunteers can register at www.coastsavers.org.
In some cases, they can register in person.
But it isn’t necessary to register.
Those who want to help can just show up.
“Volunteers are welcome to participate without registering online, but we encourage them to review the specific details on each beach page” at the website, Schmidt said.
“Logistics like where to get bags and what to do with the collected debris, safety messages and registration station locations can all be found on the beach pages,” he said.
Last April during the annual cleanup, some 1,500 volunteers picked up some 19 tons of trash from beaches.
This year looks at least as bad. Winter storms have piled debris on beaches, especially on the Pacific Coast, Schmidt said.
“We can use all the help we can get,” he added.
Where help is needed
Registration is full for Ediz Hook, Freshwater Bay and Lyre Conservation Area on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, as well as for Shi Shi Beach, Point of the Arches, Duk Point South, Cape Alava, Rialto Beach South, Oil City, Hoh Reservation, Ruby Beach, Beach 4 and Point Grenville on the Pacific Coast.
Several beaches with easy access can use more volunteers. They include the Port Townsend beaches, Dungeness Spit, Peabody Creek, Murdock Beach, East and West Twin Rivers, Deep Creek, Pillar Point, Clallam Bay, Hoko River, Sekiu River, Rays Grocery and Bullman Beach on the Strait.
Easy access beaches on the Pacific Coast that can use more volunteers include Hobuck Beach, Sooes Beach, Duk Point North, as well as First Beach, Second Beach and Third Beach at La Push and Beaches 1, 2 and 6 and Kalaloch Lodge near Kalaloch.
Challenging beaches in need of volunteers include Ozette River South, Sand Point North and South, Hole-in-the-Wall and Rialto Beach North.
In-store credit
The response in Port Townsend had been so great that the online registration closed last week, having reached a preset quota of 30 volunteers.
Schmidt opened it back up, saying multiple beaches will be cleaned around Port Townsend and the need for volunteers is large.
To encourage participation, the Port Townsend Food Co-op is offering $5 in-store credit for cleanup volunteers, Schmidt said.
The Food Co-op at 414 Kearney St. also will be the registration station for area volunteers.
Registration stations
On Saturday, volunteers will report to registration stations at the Port Townsend Food Co-op, Dungeness Spit, Ediz Hook, Peabody Creek, Joyce Depot, Clallam Bay Visitors Center, Hobuck Beach, Three Rivers Fire Station and Kalaloch.
Registration stations on the Strait will be open Saturday from about 9 a.m. to noon, Schmidt said, while those on the Pacific Coast open earlier, at about 7:30 a.m.
Trash bags and garbage cans will be provided.
Entertainment
It won’t be all work.
Not only is Saturday a free day at Olympic National Park, which is waiving entrance fees, but also barbecues and other entertainment are planned.
At 7 tonight, the Upcycle and Trashion Show at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave. in Forks, will show what can be done with trash and a little imagination.
Saturday barbecues are planned at Kalaloch Lodge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Chito Beach Resort from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Surfriders will host barbecues at the Three Rivers Fire Station from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the Hobuck Beach Campground from noon to 2 p.m.
The Friends of Olympic National Park will provide refreshments at the Lake Ozette registration station, and the Lost Resort at Ozette will serve up Rob’s Famous 15-Bean Soup from noon to 2 p.m.
At 7 p.m. Saturday at the Rainforest Arts Center in Forks, the River & Ocean Film Festival and Bake Sale will benefit CoastSavers.
For more information, go to www.coastsavers.org.
________
Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
