Port Angeles – Coming up on April 19, volunteers and Olympic National Park employees will remove marine debris from the park’s wild coastline as part of the Washington Coastal Cleanup effort. This year’s cleanup will focus on beaches near Mora and Kalaloch. Interested volunteers can register online at Volunteer.gov by Saturday, April 6, at 11 p.m.
Although walk-up registration will be available, it is not guaranteed. Volunteers should arrive early, as the registration tables at the Mora and Kalaloch trailheads will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 19. The cleanup event will run until 5 p.m. that day.
The coastline in the Mora area does present some challenges for cleanup volunteers. They’ll have to hike several miles to reach their cleanup site, collect trash, and carry it back to the trailheads. Motor vehicles are prohibited on park beaches and all litter must be removed on foot.
Camping in the Kalaloch Campground will be offered free of charge for pre-registered volunteers.
Last year, 133 dedicated volunteers stuffed debris into garbage bags, tied multiple buoys and floats to framed backpacks, and carried trash off park beaches on foot. Some even rolled automobile tires to trailheads.
Join the effort and help keep the park’s stunning coastline clean and beautiful by signing up today at volunteer.gov!
(Rialto Beach photo by Rebecca Latson)