Clean up Marsh Creek this Saturday
Help Clean up Marsh Creek
Saturday, Sept. 19, 8:00 a.m. – noon
Ruskin Commongood Park, 121 1st Ave NW, Ruskin
Marsh Creek, a vital tributary of the Little Manatee River, is an important nursery ground for many of the fish we love to see in Tampa Bay. Once choked in Brazilian Pepper, this tidal creek flowing through the heart of Ruskin, surrounded by public land, is beginning to reap the benefits of its restoration thanks to volunteer efforts led by the Ruskin Community Development Foundation (and the Pepper Patrol), along with monumental work done by Hillsborough County’s Conservation Services and SWFWMD’s SWIM program.
Now is our chance to polish up this jewel. All we have to do is take out the trash!
See details from the SWIM flyer, below.
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MARSH CREEK COASTAL CLEANUP
Come one! Come all! Volunteers needed for the Marsh Creek Cleanup! A part of the International Coastal Cleanup being held Saturday, September 19, 2009, in Ruskin, Florida. Marsh Creek is one of a series of habitat restoration projects being performed by the SWIM Program of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department. The non-native plants have been removed: now it’s time to remove the decades of trash that have accumulated! If you want, you can keep any trash that you collect! Such a deal!!!
Pre-registration: Volunteers are strongly encouraged to pre-register prior to the event to help insure adequate supplies and site preparations. Pre-registration can be conducted online at “khcbonline.org” (aka”Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful”) or at 813-960-5121.
Location: Assemble at Ruskin Commongood Park, 121 1st Ave NW, Ruskin (one block west of US41 in downtown Ruskin, on Marsh Creek).
Time/date: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, 8:00 AM; cleanup goes to 12:00 PM (noon)
Gear: Be prepared to get DIRTY!! Wear clothes that can get muddy, torn, wet, and otherwise destroyed. Wear shoes that tie to your feet!!! No sandals, flipflops, beach shoes, etc. Bring gloves (leather, if available). Hats and sunscreen recommended.
Work Area: Along the Marsh Creek shoreline and nearby upland areas bordering the creek. For adventuresome souls, there are plenty of needs/opportunities to get in the creek and ditches that feed Marsh Creek to collect debris. Debris runs the gambit from candy wrappers to lumber (with nails) to tarps to bottles to tires to TVs to sofas to boats! Remember: You can Keep Whatever you Collect if you Want! Remodel your Whole House! Go Hog Wild!
Perks: Volunteers will each receive a limited edition commemorative Coastal Cleanup T-shirt (A collector’s item!! Sorry, only one shirt per volunteer!! Hurry and get yours while supplies last!!) Plus, all the water (and maybe Gatorade) that you can drink, and your coordinators are trying to secure some extra goodies for your volunteering pleasure (e.g., cotton gloves, food coupons, etc.)!! First aid kits will be on site in case of any scrapes, etc. Most importantly, a port-o-john will be available for volunteer use!!
Final Notes: Come join your friends and neighbors and help Tampa Bay and Marsh Creek!! A splendid time is guaranteed for all!
