GRDA sponsoring event, encouraging lake are to participate...

Third annual Grand Lake shoreline cleanup event scheduled for June 9

Grand Lake — Helping to make Grand Lake’s shoreline safer and more beautiful is the focus of a lake-wide shoreline cleanup initiative, set for Saturday, June 9. This marks the third year for the project, sponsored by the Grand Lake Sail and Power Squadron, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful and the Grand River Dam Authority.

“We’re very pleased we can have a part in working with the power squadron again on this cleanup effort,” said GRDA Chief Executive Officer Kevin Easley. “GRDA’s goal for lake management is to be good stewards of the resources under our control, and keeping the lake shore clean is an important part of that. We encourage all lake residents to take part.”

To help make the cleanup effort easier, GRDA will provide trash dumpsters, which will be in place at Cedar Oaks Storage Units in Grove (8020 Hwy 59 North); at Baker’s RV Ranch near Ketchum (31625 S 4510 Rd); and at Lakemont Shores Marina (37609 S 540 Rd).

Lake area residents can use these dumpsters, free of charge, to dispose of shoreline trash (please no brush or household trash). The dumpsters will be available from 9 AM to 2 PM on June 9.

According to GRDA Ecosystems Management Superintendent Dr. Darrell Townsend , cleaning up shoreline trash will provide benefits for all Grand Lake residents.

“Shoreline trash can be harmful to the lake’s ecosystem and wildlife,” said Townsend. Wildlife and waterfowl can be killed or injured when they are entangled in debris like discarded fishing line or plastic “six-pack” holders. Sometimes, they may also swallow small pieces of plastic bags or other materials they mistake for food, he said. Also, lake visitors who step on broken glass or rusty metal, or trip over discarded fishing line, know the trouble the debris can cause.

Townsend added that old dock foam, which can be found in many locations along the shoreline, definitely needs to be removed. Like with other lakeshore trash, he said wildlife often mistake polystyrene debris for food. Also, because it is not biodegradable it can litter the shore for many years. And, as wave action causes it to break apart, the foam debris can spread across the lake quickly, leaving the water and shoreline littered and unattractive.

“Burning it can also release toxins into the air. Really, the solution is for lake residents to bring these old pieces of dock foam to the dumpster sites so they can be properly disposed of,” said Townsend. “That effort will greatly benefit the shoreline for all lake visitors, including wildlife.”

Unfortunately, the old foam is not hard to find around the lake, he said. “So anything we can do to help clean up that trash will benefit the habitat and make the lake area look better. We all want the lake shore to be a safe, clean place."