Nicodemus Wilderness Project
Nicodemus Wilderness Project
About Us Projects Education Links Volunteers Membership  
Nicodemus Wilderness Project

 
 

NWP Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists - Abalone Cove and Ecological Reserve, California, USA

http://www.wildernessproject.org/apprentice_ecologist/data/500/thumbs/96969696969696969696DSC01375.JPG
·

Abalone Cove and Ecological Reserve, California, USA
(Click on photo to view larger image)

hewett021



Registered: February 2007
Posts: -1
View this Member's Photo Gallery
This environmental cleanup project was completed as part of the Apprentice Ecologistâ„¢ Initiative! The group partnering with the Nicodemus Wilderness Project was The Sea Marshals.


The following dedicated Nicodemus Wilderness Project volunteers conducted this cleanup project in December 2005: Monica Hewett [Project Leader], Carlos Gonzalez, Bruce Hogan, Justin Brown, Stephen West, Joe Oblea, Craig Paulson, Andrea Kovacs, Andrew Rodrigues, Brian Boggs, Wendy Morrow, Tim Perry, Allen White, James Fickes, Steve Wolfe, Jonah Hewett (ages: 20s and 30s), and seven Customs and Border Protection junior officers (age range: 11-16).


Tons of smelly garbage including car parts, tooth brushes, syringes, and even pairs of shoes! It was unbelievable to see the massive amount of trash that had washed up along the shore at Abalone Cove and Ecological Reserve. Located in Palos Verdes, California, Abalone Cove is a safe haven for countless plants, animals, birds, crustaceans, reptiles, and numerous other living organisms. Inside the park is a State Ecological Preserve where the removal of any marine life is strictly prohibited. Abalone Cove had not been cleaned in over a year so it was way overdue.


My name is Monica Hewett and I am a Marine Science Technician in The United States Coast Guard. I work in the Law Enforcement Department of the Response Division on the Coast Guard base in San Pedro, California. After seeing the horrible shape the beach was in, I started working immediately. I organized a beach-clean up day for members of my department and members of Customs and Border Protection and their junior members (ages 11-16) to come together with the common goal of helping our environment. I also arranged for several of the parks docents to be on hand to teach the younger children about the importance of protecting the beach and marine life.


Each Coast Guard member was paired up with a child then we split into two groups so that we could cover as much of the park as possible. First the park docents taught us about whales and other sea life and how consequential protecting them is. Then we began cleaning, we picked up trash from the shoreline, beach, trails, parking lot, and even highway areas of the park. We removed all sorts of garbage such as tires, cups, plastic bags, ribbon, much of which could easily strangle a marine mammal.


In two hours, our group of twenty three people managed to pick-up and properly dispose of over thirty bags of trash and six bags of recyclables. During the beach clean up I felt extremely fortunate to be taking part in saving the lives of an infinite number of marine mammals and organisms. I also felt happy knowing the younger children now have a better understanding of the importance of improving the marine environment. Being a part of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.


Abalone Cove is a beautiful park which deserves to be taken care of and protected so that many people can enjoy it for countless years to come. It is also a large span of shoreline in which an infinite number of sea dwelling organisms remain safe, flourish and call home. It is crucial that we continue protect these Ecological Preserves so that marine mammals and organisms have a place to thrive, generate offspring, and continue to enrich the earth with their presence.
· Date: March 4, 2007 · Views: 16529 · File size: 27.3kb, 560.9kb · : 1280 x 960 ·
Hours Volunteered: 115
Volunteers: 23
Authors Age & Age Range of Volunteers: 11 to 30
Area Restored for Native Wildlife (hectares): 6
Trash Removed/Recycled from Environment (kg): 100
Print View
Show EXIF Info