RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, Mt. Baker Sierra Club and North Cascades Institute will lead a team of volunteers to paddle the shores of Baker Lake, picking up trash to keep the recreational area in good condition and to prevent garbage — especially plastics — from harming wildlife and degrading water quality in the lake, nearby rivers and, ultimately, the Salish Sea.
The cleanup will take place on Saturday, September 29, but volunteers have the option to camp at Baker Lake for free the nights of September 28 and 29. Yeager’s Sporting Goods will provide several boats. Volunteers will also get to paddle alongside a kayak made entirely from plastic debris and learn about the global issue of plastic pollution.
“Plastic is forever. We are only beginning to grasp the extent of the issue now that we’ve discovered microplastics in our oysters and microbrew beers,” said Eleanor Hines, North Sound Baykeeper and Lead Scientist at RE Sources. “We’re doing our part to clean up cherished outdoor places while stopping plastic from causing further harm. Plastics truly are a global problem, impacting all habitats everywhere.”
While cleanup efforts often focus on beaches and urban parks, plastic contamination also affects environments in further away wilderness and recreation areas.
It can take 1,000 years for plastic to degrade, and the effects of plastic in freshwater habitat is not well understood.
For more information, visit the event webpage at www.facebook.com/events/484650352000875/, or email Eleanor Hines at eleanorh@re-sources.org or Krista Rome at kristar@re-sources.org.
Event information
What: Cleanup and paddle at Baker Lake
When: Saturday, September 29, at 9am. Free camping Friday and Saturday night is optional. More details will be provided after RSVP.
Where: Baker Lake
More info: www.facebook.com/events/484650352000875/
RSVP: docs.google.com/forms/d/14KiMydbfftGgDKOO3OXfgOnsvTaje6aX_isRNNHFJww/
Media Contact: Eleanor Hines, North Sound Baykeeper and Lead Scientist, EleanorH@re-sources.org, (215) 287-0043