Third Annual Shoreline Cleanup is June 9

Attention Grand Lake lovers, the time has come for the 3rd annual shoreline clean-up on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. Since the recent rise of the lake level from upstream flooding trash and styrofoam have washed up along the shoreline.
Concerned? Here’s what you can do… pick a spot along the 1300 miles of shoreline along Lady Grand on Saturday, June 9th and pick up the trash. This is the 3rd year the Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron has cleaned a few miles of shoreline. Denise Winn, Environmental Chairman of the Squadron stated that the litter removed each year is entirely the result of human activities and comes in all forms. We remove plastic and styrofoam cups, aluminum cans, bottles, broken glass, discarded fishing line, forgotten jug lines, plastics bags, old coolers, bait buckets, styrofoam, paint cans, plastic oil containers, disposable diapers, feminine products, cans, and various other items. Our lake is not a dumping ground, yet year in and year out a few people keep using it as just that.
This years shoreline clean-up is the perfect opportunity for school groups community groups, families, and concerned individuals to get involved and be an environmental steward for a day. It provides a chance to be a part of the activity that has a real measurable effect on Grand Lake. The clean-up is more that just collecting trash but it is an opportunity for the communities around the lake to get involved and work together to create a clean lake for all of us to enjoy. You don’t have to belong to a club or organizations to get involved, simply grab a few trash bags and take a walk down the shoreline.
Litter is more than just an unsightly nuisance. Shoreline trash can degrade the water quality. Discarded items like paint cans and oil cans can leak dangerous chemicals into the water and plastic can release a number of toxins when it breaks down. Leached chemicals, algal growth, and PH changes all adversely affect the health of the many invertebrates and microscopic organisms that are so vital to the smooth running of an ecosystem.
Cigarette butts will take around a month to a month and a half to break down. The filters are made of a cellulose acetate which is a type of plastic that contains many toxic chemicals that are released into the environment as it decomposes.
Some of the most dangerous aquatic debris items are the plastic six-pack rings and monofilament fishing line. Entanglement occurs when fish, birds, and animals get caught in the trash or when trying to use pieces to build their nests or shelter. Entanglement can restrict movement, cause open sores, and in some cases strangle them.
Litter in our lake can also result in lost revenue for our lake-wide tourism industry. So for the health of our lake as well as our regional economy it is extremely important that everyone becomes involved in the shoreline clean-up. You might not be able to find anything really valuable but it’s just the good feeling that you get from doing something good.
The Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron has seen the need and will engage on the 3rd annual shoreline clean-up June 9, 2007. The Squadron has chosen the popular beaching area of Patricia Island for their clean-up efforts this year and encourages other groups to pick an area as well.
Since styrofoam can float up in huge pieces it is important that you pull it up onto the bank to drain. Styrofoam doesn’t weigh much however, when full of water it can become very heavy. The locations for the styrofoam only disposal will be 8020 Hwy 59 N in front of Cedar Oaks Storage Units for the north end of the lake, Lakemont Shores Marina – 37609 S 540 Rd for the south and east side of the lake, and Baker’s Lake Ranch RV Park – 31625 S 4510 Rd east of Kahoots for the south and west side of the lake. These dumpsters will be available for styrofoam ONLY.
The green dumpsters around the lake are available for you to throw away the shoreline trash you collect. If you have large items that have washed up on your shoreline, please take them to the larger dump sites. The limbs and logs are NOT part of the clean-up… only litter.
Please help in this important endeavor for our “Grand” Lake. Grand Lake’s 3rd Annual clean-up is sponsored by the Grand Lake Sail & Power Squadron, Grand River Dam Authority, and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. If you would like to take part in the clean-up and have any questions, please contact Denise Winn at (918) 791-9337 or kdwinn@gcinet.net for more information.