HOUSTON – Volunteers are signing up now for the nation’s biggest coastal cleanup on Saturday, September 15th.The 2018 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup takes place at 10 sites in the Houston and Galveston area.
“Each year, Texans from across the state join together to ensure our beaches are kept safe and clean,” said Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush. “As summer comes to a close, keeping Texas beaches clean is more important than ever, helping to restore our coastal communities and keeping our beaches accessible and clear of marine debris year-round. Join forces with thousands of other Texans and be part of the solution on Saturday, September 15th.”
| Who: | Thousands of Texans who care about the coast |
| What: | GLO Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup |
| When: | Saturday, September 15th |
| Time: | Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Clean up will be from 9 a.m. to noon |
| Where: | 10 sites in the Houston and Galveston area |
Morgan’s Point-Harris County
Check-in: Parking area at end of Ballester Street at Ballester Fishing Area
Contact: Emily Ford, 281-332-3381, Ext. 207, emily.ford@texasadoptabeach.org
The Nature Conservancy’s Texas City Prairie Preserve – Galveston County
Check-in: 4702 Hwy 146 N
Contact: Tim O’Connell, 409-941-9114 or 409-392-3550
tim.oconnell@texasadoptabeach.org; or
Adriane Arnold, 713-829-7093, Adriane.arnold@texasadoptabeach.org
Bolivar Peninsula-Galveston County
Check-in: Crystal Beach Volunteer Fire Department, 930 Noble Carl Drive, approximately 11 miles from the ferry landing
Contact: Brenda Flanagan, 409-291-9092
brenda.flanagan@texasadoptabeach.org
John M. O’Quinn I-45 Scenic Estuarial Corridor & Virginia Point Peninsula Preserve-Galveston County
Check-in: Exit 6 off I-45 at Reitan Point
Contact: Evangeline Whorton, 979-234-2096, 409-789-4996
evangeline.whorton@texasadoptabeach.org
Advanced Reservations Required
Galveston Island-Galveston County
Check-in: Menard Park, 27th Street & Seawall Boulevard
Contact: Sheryl Rozier, Clean Galveston, sheryl.rozier@texasadoptabeach.org
Surfside-Brazoria County
Check-in: Stahlman Park, approximately 2 miles east from the intersection of Hwy 332 and C.R. 257 (Bluewater Hwy.)
Contact: Mike Mullenweg, Brazoria County Parks Department, 979-864-1152
mike.mullenweg@texasadoptabeach.org
Quintana-Brazoria County
Check-in: Quintana Beach County Park, 330 5th Street
Contact: Patty Brinkmeyer, 979-233-1461
patty.brinkmeyer@texasadoptabeach.org
Sargent Beach/County Park-Matagorda County
Check-in: FM 457 & CR 230 (Canal Drive)
Contact: Ray Fessenden, 979-482-7007, ray.fessenden@texasadoptabeach.org;
David Dupont, 832-647-9800, david.dupont@texasadoptabeach.org
Mike Sandridge, 281-908-4024, mike.sandridge@texasadoptabeach.org
Matagorda Beach-Matagorda County
Check-in: Matagorda Jetty Park
Contact: Peggy Stanley, 979-216-6016, peggy.stanley@texasadoptabeach.org
Palacios-Matagorda County
Check-in: Marine Education Center, 102 Marine Center Drive
Contact: Bonnie Peterson, 361-972-3774, bonnie.peterson@texasadoptabeach.org
The Texas Adopt-A-Beach program began in the fall of 1986, when 2,800 volunteers picked up 124 tons of trash. Since then, more than 523,000 volunteers have removed nearly 10,000 tons of trash from Texas beaches. Volunteers can sign up online at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org or show up on-site Saturday morning, with the exception of the John M. O’Quinn Estuarial Corridor location, which requires advance registration, to take part in a fun-filled day at the beach that makes a difference.
Each volunteer will be given data cards, gloves, pencils and trash bags. All volunteers are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and plenty of drinking water. The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups are held rain or shine!
Texans who are not able to attend the cleanup can help keep their beaches clean by making a tax-deductible donation online at www.TexasAdoptABeach.org. There are several different Adopt-A-Beach sponsorship levels ranging from $25 to $25,000, allowing both individuals and corporations to contribute to this major cleanup effort.
Everyone who signs up online and checks in at their cleanup location will be entered to win a RTIC soft pack 20 can cooler or one of five 20-ounce stainless steel water bottles. The random drawing will take place after the cleanup. Winners will be contacted directly.
The 2018 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup is sponsored by Apache Corporation, SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Texas Coastal Management Program, Energy XXI – Gulf Coast, Flint Hills Resources, Murphy Oil & Exploration Company, Trusted Senior Specialists, Corona Del Mar Beach Properties, Dumpsters.com and the Ocean Conservancy (in-kind sponsor).
And don’t forget, now you can support the Texas coast all year by purchasing the official Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach specialty license plate. For every plate sale, the Adopt-A-Beach program receives a direct benefit that will help the program continue to grow, reduce litter on Texas beaches, and provide coastal environmental education to our youth.
The plate costs just $30 in addition to regular vehicle fees, with $22 used to support the Texas coastline. Personalized plates are also available for an extra $40. In addition, the cost of purchasing the plate is considered a tax-deductible donation from you.