FOLSR Beach Cleanup collects 216 lbs of trash from Wisconsin Point

photo: WI Point Beach Cleanup organizers gather for a photo before cleaning up trash (credit: Will Mowchan)

Though the morning of Saturday, May 17th was chilly and cloudy, 23 volunteers gathered alongside the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve to help clean up the beaches of Wisconsin Point. Volunteers gathered for a brief introduction to Wisconsin Point, the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, and a brief announcement of a survey that tracks how Wisconsin Point is used by visitors. You can take that survey here at mywipoint.org. Volunteers then dispersed to clean up the beaches at all five lots on Wisconsin Point.

Among the many things collected, the most common were cigarette butts, empty cans and bottles, and various kinds of plastic. Some of the more unique things found were a hammer, plastic netting for an enclosure, and a broken plastic snowman. Data was collected on what kinds of trash were found, and how much by each group. This data was submitted to the Alliance for the Great Lakes study on trash found on Great Lakes beaches. You can read more about the Alliance’s efforts to keep plastic pollution out of the Great Lakes by clicking here: Great Lakes Plastic Pollution.

photo: Volunteers cleaning up the shorelines of WI Point as a cargo ship travels through the Superior entrance to the lake (credit: Will Mowchan)

Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers, 216 lbs of trash is now free from the beaches and shorelines of Wisconsin Point, keeping it from the water as well as the critical estuary habitat that is so important to shorebirds, fish, other wildlife, and humans alike. We could not do the work we do without community members like you!

The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve have adopted the beaches of Wisconsin Point through the City of Superior’s Adopt-A-Park program. FOLSR conducts beach cleanups at Wisconsin Point twice a year, once in fall and once in spring. For more opportunities to volunteer with us, or just check us out to learn more about FOLSR, visit our website at folsr.org/events. We offer various opportunities to engage with the estuary, including birding events, invasive species removal volunteering, more beach cleanups. You can also check out the Lake Superior Estuarium (outreach and education center) on Barker’s Island.

Article by Callie Grones

Cover photo: WI Point Beach Cleanup volunteers gather for a photo with the 216 lbs of trash collected at the beach cleanup (credit: Will Mowchan)