International Coastal Cleanup 2018 at ESC
Friends and neighbors of Seahurst Park helped turn the tide on trash Sept 15 so that 178 pounds would not enter Puget Sound! The City of Burien sponsors ESC to coordinate a cleanup 
each fall and spring and we took part in the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal cleanup, the largest worldwide volunteer project in service to our oceans. Thanks to 61 people, more than 300 plastic particles and 600 cigarette butts, which also contain plastic and chemicals, were removed, along with three trash bags full of recyclables. Cleanup crews tracked what they collected and some used the Ocean Conservancy’s app, Ocean Swell, which you can use daily to report the removal of marine debris.
each fall and spring and we took part in the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal cleanup, the largest worldwide volunteer project in service to our oceans. Thanks to 61 people, more than 300 plastic particles and 600 cigarette butts, which also contain plastic and chemicals, were removed, along with three trash bags full of recyclables. Cleanup crews tracked what they collected and some used the Ocean Conservancy’s app, Ocean Swell, which you can use daily to report the removal of marine debris. The Orca Conservancy was also on site to discuss our local whale populations and how to help them. 
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is the regional coordinator for cleanups that occur within the Puget Sound basin and will develop another annual report on what litter was found, including microplastics. These are plastic fragments and fibers five millimeters and smaller that come from the breakdown of larger plastics, but also car tires, latex paint and synthetic clothing fibers. These litter forms can absorb toxins and have shown up in the food web.
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is the regional coordinator for cleanups that occur within the Puget Sound basin and will develop another annual report on what litter was found, including microplastics. These are plastic fragments and fibers five millimeters and smaller that come from the breakdown of larger plastics, but also car tires, latex paint and synthetic clothing fibers. These litter forms can absorb toxins and have shown up in the food web. Puget Soundkeeper coordinated with the University of Washington in 2018 to sample water and found 41 of 44 local sites between the San Juans and Olympia contained at least one microplastic.
Seahurst Park had two fibers/fragments. A sample was collected during this event as well. The beach at Seahurst is known for its low tide treasure trove of invertebrates, such as sea stars, sea anemones, moon snails and sand dollars. The removal of wrappers and plastics helps reduce the negative impacts on these creatures in their plankton or adult forms.
The phrase “trash is the only thing you can take 
from the beach” is also a common saying in the park to ensure that shells, rocks and critters will stay put to become homes for barnacles, crabs and their comrades. You can see some of the cool marine life helped by volunteer efforts during three of ESC’s Moonlight Beach Walks that start in December. Popularity soared last year, so registration is now required for these fun events through our website.
from the beach” is also a common saying in the park to ensure that shells, rocks and critters will stay put to become homes for barnacles, crabs and their comrades. You can see some of the cool marine life helped by volunteer efforts during three of ESC’s Moonlight Beach Walks that start in December. Popularity soared last year, so registration is now required for these fun events through our website.Join us in thanking all of our wonderful volunteers and then join us in the spring for another cleanup!
Thank you for pitching in during the event and on a regular basis!!!