Office of Coastal Management

CELEBRATE THE COAST WITH BEACH SWEEPS

Louisiana's Coastweeks will be celebrated for the twelfth year - September 20 through October 13. The featured event to be held on Saturday, September 20th, the great Louisiana Beach Sweep, kicks-off the annual celebration supported by the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), local zone coordinators, volunteers, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Coastweeks is a national campaign designed to educate Americans about initiatives and ways of protecting and conserving our nation's coasts.

Louisiana's spokeswoman and chairperson for the 1997 Beach Sweep and Inland Waterway Cleanup, First Lady Alice Foster, said the multi-week celebration allows citizens of all ages to become involved in helping care for our state's coastal areas and wetlands.

Governor Foster's statewide proclamation on Coastweeks recommends that Louisianians concentrate on stopping pollution, and encourages all citizens of the state to become good stewards of the environment.

Coastal resources have a significant impact on the nation's economy so many organizations and volunteers around the country are involved with providing educational materials as part of the Coastweekscampaign. The Center for Marine Conservation in Virginia serves as the national sponsor.

The 1997 Beach Sweep and Inland Waterway Cleanup will focus on cleaning up the state's waterways and beaches while recording the amount and types of materials found during The cleanup. State Beach Sweep Coordinator Gwen Emick and 23 coordinators are working with thousands of volunteers scheduled to pick-up some 200 miles of coastline and beach litter.

Throughout Coastweeks, DNR emphasizes the slogan, "celebrate, educate, and participate" and provides educational information about the state's coastal program to interested citizens and groups. Call or write the Coastweeks Coordinator, Peggy Rooney, 625 North 4th Street, 13th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70804 at (504) 342-0557.

Editors: Contact for more information on Coastweeks/Beach Sweep 1997:

State Beach Sweep Coordinator, Gwen Emick
Litter Reduction and Public Action
La. Department of Environmental Quality
(504) 765-0249
Clean-up Zones are in Cameron, Fourchon, Timbalier, Grand Isle/New Orleans, Grand Terre, Acadiana, Chandeleur, and Lake Pontchartrain.

La. Department of Natural Resources
Office of Coastal Restoration and Management
Coastweeks Coordinator, Peggy Rooney
625 North 4th Street, 13th Floor
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(504) 342-0557