Wild New Jersey Exclusive: Urgent help wanted at Nature Center of Cape May


The tidal zone beyond Harborview Park’s bulkhead shows the aftermath of last week’s nor’easter. The area had just been cleaned by a Girl Scout troop in October. The Nature Center of Cape May is desperately seeking assistance in cleaning up harbor debris to avoid long term damage to the fragile harbor ecosystems and wildlife.

Cape May Harbor was hammered by last week's nor'easter storm with major impacts to its coastline. Large sections of the beaches and marsh were washed away. Three large sailing vessels, one smaller sunfish type and two dinghies were scattered into the harbor's western cove. Telephone poles, sections of docks and timbers were tossed like matchsticks throughout the shoreline. Hundreds of pounds of plastics, styrofoam and various trash were littered all along the beaches.

The Nature Center of Cape May holds harbor clean-ups twice a year.  Their next scheduled clean-up is not until April 24, however, they cannot wait! Action must be taken now. As part of the nature center's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Grant, community outreach and clean-up events will be forthcoming throughout the year.

The center is seeking community groups to help pick up trash along the harbor's edge. They will provide the gloves, trash bags, buckets and tools to conduct a clean-up effort. They will document your group's community service hours and write letters for students and scouts. They simply just need your help.

Any time you have available, the center will make arrangements to have the supplies ready for you. This is a great project for scout troops, church groups, school clubs or even a family group following that big turkey day dinner.

If you are interested in pitching in and helping to restore our beautiful harbor, protect marine life or simply make a positive impact on our precious world, please contact Gretchen Ferrante at 609-898-8848.

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Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 11/27/2009 7:00 AM
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Nature News Links
Tags: northeastern ida clean-up beach harborview park cape may
 

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