Keep Sarasota County Beautiful’s 2015 International Coastal Cleanup is gathering volunteer groups of all kinds who will help collect litter at locations throughout the county from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19

Sarasota County coming together for 2015 International Coastal Cleanup

SARASOTA COUNTY –  Keep Sarasota County Beautiful’s 2015 International Coastal Cleanup is gathering volunteer groups of all kinds who will help collect litter at locations throughout the county from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 19.

Individuals, community organizations, youth groups and neighborhood associations will be participating at locations in Sarasota, Laurel/Nokomis, Venice, Englewood and North Port. As interest in this event continues to grow, volunteers are finding unique ways to get involved. A group of kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders will be cleaning trash from the county’s shores and waterways from their vessels. In addition, a special partnership between a group of homeowners from the South Gate neighborhood, students from Riverview High School, members of SUP Sarasota and Sarasota Bay Watch and Sarasota County staff will work out of kayaks and canoes to clean up Phillippi Creek.

“It’s really exciting to see individuals and groups of all types coming together to help beautify our county,” said Wendi Crisp, Keep Sarasota County Beautiful coordinator. “We’ve had an amazing response already from people interested in helping out with this year’s cleanup.”

Also participating in this year’s cleanup, which coincides with National Estuaries Week (Sept. 19-26), will be representatives of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. SBEP is also working with the county and other partners in Southwest Florida to define water quality paramenters in support of the thriving fish nurseries in Phillippi Creek and other tidal estuaries where freshwater mixes with saltwater.

Venues are filling up fast, and KSCB is still seeking volunteers in a few south county locations, according to Crisp. To register, visit www.scgov.net/kscb or call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000.