Erie County, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), as well as cleanup site coordinators and public volunteers participated in the Pennsylvania-Lake Erie International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Saturday morning, Sept. 16, to improve the Lake Erie watershed.
This year’s effort focused on 22 sites along the Lake Erie shoreline and watershed. During the 21st annual ICC in Erie County, 1200 volunteers removed over 3700 pounds of trash and other items from over 36 miles of shoreline and waterways. This is an increase of 40% more volunteers and 35% more trash than last year.
“It is great to see so many volunteers come out to cleanup along our Great Lake” Erie County Executive Brenton Davis said.
International Coastal Cleanup, the oldest and largest volunteer project of its kind, is celebrating its 38th anniversary. This event and effort could not be done without the support of generous volunteers and local organizations including Keep PA Beautiful; Asbury Woods and Nature Center; PA Steelhead Association; PA DCNR; PA DEP and Coastal Resources Management; Fairview Township; Millcreek Township; Gannon University; Penn State Erie, The Behrend Campus; the Housing Authority of the City of Erie; Erie Downtown Partnership; Erie Neighborhood Art House; Benedictine Sisters; PennFuture; UPMC Hamot; Waste Management; Edinboro Lake Watershed Association; Baker Creek Watershed Association; Lawrence Park Fishing Club; Fairview High School, Mercyhurst Prep High School; and Mercyhurst University.
