Surfriders planning beach clean-ups in preparation for possible oil spill arrival!! Contact your Local Surfrider Foundation for information on how you can help!!
HOBE SOUND — With an eye on the mass of pollution from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Treasure Coast Surfriders are expanding their coastal cleanup efforts during the next two months.
However, if the slick ends up in the loop current that could bring the oil through the Florida Keys and up the east coast of Florida, they intend to quickly mobilize members to get the trash and other debris from the sand.
“There are so many beaches if we start now we can get more done,” said Tiffany Jackson, Surfrider chairman.
The group, meeting Tuesday at Scooters in Hobe Sound, didn’t want to begin the clean up too quick, as the spill isn’t expected to reach the Florida Panhandle in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s three-day outlook, let alone move towards South Florida in that time.
Surfrider Board member Greg Gardner said with the slick still potentially weeks away, it’s best to time the cleanup closer to when any of the pollutions may arrive.
The local Surfriders chapter already had planned a beach clean up for Jensen Beach — at the east end of the Jensen Beach Causeway — for June 20, to tie in International Surfing Day.
The additional cleanups are now set for: May 29 at Hobe Sound Beach, June 5 at Normandy Beach, June 12 at Santa Lucia Beach, June 26 at Stuart Beach, July 10 at Pepper Park. For information, visit www.surfrider.org/treasurecoast.
information from http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/may/11/surfriders-planning-beach-clean-ups-in-for-oil
