Summer Beach Clean-Ups Collect Six Tons of Trash from Lake Superior’s Coast

Over the summer the Superior Watershed Partnership supported coastal cleanups in Marquette and with the Keweenaw Bay and Bay Mills Indian communities. The beach clean-up events where funded by a grant the superior watershed partnership was able to acquire through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program. The partnership deployed teams to clean up over 200 miles of Lake Superior’s coast line, picking litter and debris all along the way. Through coordinated dive teams and groups on the beach, the partnership, City of Marquette, Keweenaw Bay and Bay Mills Indian communities, volunteers were able to remove over 6 tons of material from the beaches. Much of the 12,000 pounds of trash consists of plastic, tires, anchors, tangled fishing gear, bicycles, appliances, and other materials. The SWP plans to host more beaches clean up during the upcoming summer months. Along with that they plan to partner with more local groups to coordinate and organize beach clean-up events, and have a goal to clean up another 600 miles of coast line. Contact the Superior Watershed Partnership to learn more about their organization, event, volunteering and about the great lake we call superior to the rest.