SOLVE Cannon Beach Clean-Up Helps Clear Tsunami Debris

Cannon Beach, July 7th. SOLVE organized an extra beach clean-up this summer to pick up garbage and any debris washing up on Oregon beaches from the 2011 Japanese Tsunami. 109 volunteers collected 850 pounds of debris including a very large Styrofoam cylinder. No hazardous waste was reported. SOLVE is helping clear any tsunami debris found by working with the Oregon Tsunami Debris Task Force. Oregon Parks and Recreation has established 32 drop-offs locations for debris collected on the beach. Debris dropped off at the collection locations must be in official SOLVE bags, which can be picked up at any state park or transfer station in an Oregon coastal county.

Bob Mushen, Carla Moya, Jenee Pearce-Mushen and Charilyn Vantassel from OBRC

Bob Mushen and Carla Moya are SOLVE and City of Cannon Beach volunteers, Jenee Pearce-Mushen is the SOLVE Captain of Cannon Beach volunteers and Director at Pacific Alarm Systems. Charilyn Vantassel is with OBRC

Gary Loveless, Nadine Norquist and Lisa Habecker

SOLVE volunteers Gary Loveless, Nadine Nordquist and Lisa Habecker

Visitors flock to the tide-pools near Haystack Rock during low tide.

Volunteers Allison and Tess Kehoe, from the National Charity League, Inc., were two of the more than 100 SOLVE volunteers.

Fish, birds, and other aquatic life can mistake small bits of trash for food. This trash travels through the digestive system often resulting in malnutrition, entanglement, and strangulation.

Due to the increased use of plastic and other synthetic materials, marine debris is causing increasing damage to ocean ecosystems and wildlife. Scientists estimate that more than 5 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean is covered with trash, and most of it is believed to be made up of plastic remnants from the world’s shorelines.

SOLVE helps keep Oregon Beaches beautiful.

SOLVE is working with the Oregon Tsunami Debris Task Force which includes representatives of State Police, Parks, Environmental Quality, Fish and Wildlife, Public Health, Transportation and the Marine Board, as well as local and tribal governments, state legislators, community organizations, and federal agencies.

For more information on how to handle beach debris, here’s a website:

http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/tsunami_debris.shtml

From SOLVE:

SOLVE is a non-profit organization that brings together proud Oregonians (native and newly-transplanted) to improve the environment and to build a legacy of stewardship. By making connections between individuals, business groups, and service and conservation groups through volunteering and education, we are building a stronger tomorrow for this place we all love. This place that, let’s face it, is pretty much the biggest reason why we came (or stayed) here in the first place. We’ll take care of it, together.

The organization originally called S.O.L.V. (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism) was created by Governor Tom McCall and other community leaders in 1969 to address the need for community action in the ever-growing state. Today SOLVE is building on their vision with a strategic plan that will guide us as we work to improve the environment of Oregon and build a legacy of stewardship.

In response to what is becoming an unprecedented amount of marine debris in Oregon, SOLVE has taken a leading role with partners Surfrider Foundation, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, Oregon Sea Grant and Washed Ashore, in forming a plan for a coordinated response. Our group, collectively operating as the Oregon Marine Debris Team, is working in an effort to engage volunteers in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies in marine debris removal projects. A network of 32 drop-off sites on the Oregon coast are now ready to receive beach debris washing ashore from the tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. The drop-off sites are free and are a combination of state parks and independent recycling and transfer stations located in every county. Visitors and residents can call 211 (or 1-800-SAFENET) to report tsunami debris they see on the beach. The drop-off sites will accept debris in official beach cleanup bags produced by SOLVE. Beach cleanup bags are available at state park campgrounds.There will also be an increased number of beach cleanups scheduled on the Oregon Coast. Join the Marine Debris Team volunteer list if you are interested in helping with this effort.

Volunteer!

Pickup trash along the beach the next time you visit the beach. Bags are available at every state park and transfer station along the Oregon coast. Full bags can be left at beach debris drop-off points.
Organize a beach cleanup with SOLVE through the Project Oregon program.
Sign up to volunteer for ongoing beach cleanup efforts.

Get Educated!

Learn more about Tsunami Debris by visiting the Oregon Parks and Recreation Webpage.
Learn more about the impact of litter and marine debris on wildlife and water quality by clicking here.

Donate!

Support SOLVE’s ongoing efforts to keep Oregon beautiful and healthy, make a donation today.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.