In 2023, with funding from the Ocean Conservancy, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful collaborated with numerous individuals, organizations and businesses who make their home in Lake Erie, to pilot devices made to capture debris that makes its way into the water.
The devices, known as litter control booms, are designed to limit the spread of trash and debris and corral floating litter so it can be collected and removed from the waterway.
Two booms were installed at points of stormwater discharge in Presque Isle Bay at the property of Lakeshore Towing Services, Inc.
Interns from the Regional Science Consortium at Tom Ridge Environmental Center, have been monitoring the sites, collecting the trash that accumulates in the booms and evaluating data, determining the types and sources of trash and the effectiveness of the devices.
Data collected includes date, time, current and previous weather parameters, counts for various categories of litter, weight of materials removed, and water quality analyses including bacteria and presence of petroleum products such as gas and oil.
The litter booms have thus far proven successful in preventing litter from entering Presque Isle Bay.
An analysis of the thousands of pieces of litter captured by the booms indicated cigarette butt litter was the most prevalent, followed by foam pieces, then plastic pieces.
Future analyses will examine the occurrence of correlations between meteorological conditions and the presence of litter. Information gleaned from this program will aid in determining how to reduce the amount of trash entering the waterway.
“Marine debris is a serious issue, not only locally, but globally. The data from this project will highlight the most common litter that enters our waterways and impacts our drinking water and sport fishery,” said Jeanette Schnars, Ph.D., Executive Director, Regional Science Consortium.
As a result of this pilot project educational strategies will be evaluated and developed to inform residents and visitors about the effects litter has on local industry, people and wildlife and help change attitudes and behaviors toward littering.
This portion of the program will be funded by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Coastal Resources Management Program.
“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is grateful for this collaborative effort to keep Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie clean and beautiful. Not only does trash adversely affect water quality, it harms wildlife, the local economy and tourism. Every cigarette butt and piece of litter that is disposed properly is a step closer to cleaner and safer waterways,” said Don Benczkowski, Program Coordinator, Lake Erie Region, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Not only is Lake Erie a popular vacation destination, according to the Great Lakes Guide, it is also the most biologically diverse of all the Great Lakes due to its warm, shallow waters.
The Lake Erie Watershed provides drinking water for 12 million people and supports a variety of industries and is most susceptible to agricultural practices.
It is also home to one of the world’s largest and most valuable freshwater commercial and sport fisheries.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will report results to the Ocean Conservancy who will analyze litter trends and sources.
Preventive Measures
In addition, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is distributing portable ashtrays to adult tobacco users at various marinas along Presque Isle and shoreline that are under the jurisdiction of the Port Authority to reduce the amount of cigarette butts and other tobacco products that make their way into the waterway.
Sept. 21 Cleanup Events
Erie residents and volunteers will also be mobilizing as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest volunteer initiative to keep trash from reaching our waterways and oceans.
Cleanups will be held in various locations along Lake Erie on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
All are welcome to participate. For more information and to register to participate, contact Audrey Knight, Erie County Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator at aknight@eriecountypa.gov or 814-451-7326.
For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.
The 2024 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative cleanup events are happening now through the end of November! Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.
Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.
[Posted: September 17, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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