Annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep Litter Cleanup Set For Sept. 20 in S.C.
September 16, 2008
A Star Wars light saber, an apartment door, a fax machine, and yes, even the kitchen sink are among just some of the unusual items found during Beach Sweep/River Sweep, the largest one-day cleanup of the state’s waterways scheduled to take place Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. until noon.
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) work together to coordinate the statewide event. This year, 38 out of 46 counties, in the Upstate, through the Midlands and to the Lowcountry, have Beach Sweep/River Sweep volunteers cleaning waterways in their communities.
“Our local coordinators, called site captains, have volunteered to lead both land-based and water-based cleanups in a variety of areas from boat landings and other recreational areas, to lakes, rivers, creeks, marshes and beaches,” said Bill Marshall, inland coordinator.
During the past 20 years, South Carolinians and visitors to the state helped remove an average of 50 tons of litter and aquatic debris from our waterways each year. If you would like to take part in this worthwhile effort, contact Bill Marshall, inland coordinator, at (803) 734-9096 or marshallb [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov
, or Susan Ferris Hill, coastal coordinator, at (843) 953-2078 or susan [dot] ferris [dot] hill [at] scseagrant [dot] org.
Beach Sweep/River Sweep is held in conjunction with The Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, an annual event that takes place on the third Saturday each September. Seventy-five countries, along with all 50 U.S. states and several territories, were involved last year. Anyone can participate—individuals, families, schools, youth groups, civic and conservation clubs or businesses. All necessary supplies are provided. “While we have a lot of areas covered, we still need volunteers, especially for needy locations like marshes, creeks and rivers,” said Susan Ferris, coastal coordinator.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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Walleye Bag Limits Will Increase on Some Northern Lakes
June 10, 2008
MADISON – Daily walleye bag limits will increase June 13 on 258 lakes in the Wisconsin Ceded Territory to reflect spring spearing harvest by six Wisconsin bands of Chippewa Indians.
A daily bag limit of two walleye will increase to three walleye per day on 93 lakes. In addition, 165 lakes will go from an initial bag limit of two or three walleyes per day to the state daily bag limit of five, according to Joe Hennessy, who coordinates the treaty fisheries management program for the Department of Natural Resources. Anglers should consult the 2008-09 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, signs at boat landings, and the 2008-2009 Revised Ceded Territory Walleye Bag Limits pamphlet for lake-specific information.
“This is good news for sport anglers and for local and state economies” said DNR Secretary Matthew Frank. “Increasing bag limits after the spring spearing season — the time when Chippewa bands make most of their yearly harvest — gives sport anglers more opportunities and more reasons to head north for a great day of fishing on Wisconsin waters while assuring that the tribes maintain their harvest rights.”
As part of a 1983 Federal Appellate Court decision affirming Chippewa off-reservation hunting, fishing, and gathering rights, the six bands of Wisconsin Chippewa set annual harvest quotas for off-reservation lakes in the Wisconsin Ceded Territory. To assure the combined tribal and recreational angler harvest does not exceed a sustainable level, the state sets recreational bag limits in lakes declared for harvest by the Chippewa bands.
An administrative rule passed by the state Natural Resources Board in 1998 allows the department to adjust initial bag limits annually to reflect actual spring spearing harvests and projected summer harvests.
Of the 152 lakes with bag limits less than five, one lake will have a bag limit of one walleye per day, 66 lakes will have a bag limit of two walleye per day, and 85 lakes will have a daily bag of three walleye per day. The six Chippewa tribes together declared a harvest of 51,683 walleye for 2008 and had harvested 27,856 as of May 19, 2008.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Hennessy - (608) 267-9427
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DNR, City of Coleraine to Upgrade Boat Landings on Trout Lake
June 9, 2008
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the city of Coleraine are working together this summer on major upgrades to two city boat access sites on Trout Lake - one in Cotton Park and one in Long Year Park.
Work has begun on the site in Long Year Park (near the hockey rink). Improvements include parking lot graveling and upgrading and a new launch ramp and dock. Once the improvements are completed at Long Year Park, the reconstruction of the Cotton Park site (near the fire hall) will begin (estimated mid-June to late July).
The construction at Cotton Park will take approximately four to six weeks and will necessitate temporary closure of that facility, said DNR Trails and Waterways Area Supervisor Bob Moore. Anglers are encouraged to use the new site in Long Year Park or the existing access near Kom-on-in-Beach.
The project is a result of ongoing Coleraine community planning efforts and recognition of the need for improved boating facilities.
The projects will also incorporate lakeshore restoration on Trout Lake and enhanced protection in areas adjacent to the launch sites. The contractor for both upgrades is Hawkinson Construction of Grand Rapids.
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