Wanted: People to clean up outdoors

Organizers want the public to pick up on the 2002 Adopt-A-Shore effort to haul off a year's trash.

By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 19, 2002

For the environmentally conscious residents of Citrus County, the following statistics should be both encouraging and disheartening.

Encouraging because more than 600 people participated in last year's Adopt-A-Shore cleanup, scouring the waterways on both sides of the county.

Disheartening because the volunteers collected 22,300 pounds of trash, from cigarette butts to kitchen appliances.

"There are a lot of people who aren't real considerate of the environment," said Mike Winship, operations manager for the county Aquatic Services Division.

On Saturday, the Adopt-A-Shore program opens the seventh annual Save Our Waters Week. Participants will begin the dirty but important task at 8 a.m. and work until noon.

Winship said anyone interested in joining in can call his office at 527-7620 or simply show up at one of the many areas targeted in this year's campaign.

Some of the areas are Fort Island Park in Crystal River, MacRae's in Homosassa, the Chassahowitzka campground, the Spruce Street boat ramp off State Road 200 and the Eden Drive boat ramp in Inverness.

Save Our Waters Week began in 1996 as a way to raise awareness about the county's water resources.

It is sponsored by Citrus 20/20 Inc. in partnership with the state Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Citrus County government.

Other events for the week include:

Saturday: "Popcorn and a Movie" at St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve, 7 to 9 p.m. The movie will be The Florida Water Story. For reservations, call 563-0450. Sept. 26: Political forum, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Courthouse in Inverness. Candidates running for office will answer questions about water issues and conservation.

Sept. 28: Celebration at the Greenways and Trails site at the Inglis Dam along Lake Rousseau, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Events include a water resource fair, with exhibits from local and state agencies.

There will be dancing and karaoke all day, as well as kayak rentals and a picnic. For information and directions, call 564-9197.

Sept. 28: Twilight tour along the "Ecowalk" in Crystal River, 6:30 to 8 p.m. For reservations, call St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve at 563-0450.

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