The Town of Hempstead and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society will have the area's first beach clean-up of the year on March 28. The organizations have worked to keep the waters and shoreline clean for more than 15 years by organizing annual clean-ups attended by volunteers.
In the past five years alone, more than 4,800 volunteers have taken part in the environmental action and together they've removed a total of nearly five tons of trash and debris from the beach. Participants will be shown how and why the conservation society measures and records collection data to report to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"The goal is to clean up as much trash as we find," explained Allison Deperte, a research associate and field biologist with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. "Every little bit taken off the beach is one less item that can hurt marine life." Removing potential contaminants and human-made garbage from the beach is a critical step in helping to preserve a healthy ecosystem.
One key responsibility of the conservation society is performing necropsies — animal autopsies — on seals, sea turtles, dolphins and whales that wash ashore. Deperte said that debris in the water is a frequent cause of death for the animals they examine. Lido Beach is also a nesting area for the endangered piping plover, making it even more crucial to maintain a debris-free habitat and help ensure the bird's survival.
One beach clean-up session is a helpful beginning, but it's not a lasting solution. Clean-ups are scheduled to take place each month for the next eight months with five visits to Lido Beach Town Park — March 28, April 19, June 28, Aug. 23 and Sept. 26 — and three visits to Point Lookout Town Park — May 30, July 25 and Oct. 25.
Each session will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, divided into two 90-minute sessions — participants are asked to attend only one session per day to allow for more total volunteer opportunities and ample supplies. Cleaning equipment will be provided, but bringing gloves is recommended. Interested contributors looking to get involved can find more information and register to participate by visiting hempsteadny.gov/856/beach-cleanups.
