Volunteers to clean trash from lake shores today

Even without a coast to speak of, Utahns can get involved today in the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup Day.

The Great Salt Lakekeeper, the state Department of Natural Resources and the Living Planet Aquarium are teaming up to focus on the Jordan River's banks and the shores of Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake, as governments and volunteers worldwide clean up waterways.

"This is the Super Saturday of cleanups," said Great Salt Lakekeeper director Jeff Salt, whose group has organized two other large cleanup projects on the Jordan River so far this summer.

Volunteers will be asked to clean up garbage from the banks and shores at Utah Lake's Lindon Marina, the Saltair resort at the Great Salt Lake and two spots along the Jordan River, 11400 South in South Jordan and Fremont Avenue in Salt Lake City.

"These are areas that are equally disrespected by the public in terms of trash and litter," Salt said. "The Saltair section of the lake is just always cluttered with litter. (At) Lindon Marina, they often find refrigerators, mattresses, things like that."

The Salt Lake City section of the river has been a focal point in the Great Salt Lakekeeper's efforts to remove abandoned shopping carts. Last month, the group removed its 300th shopping cart since 2000.

The cleanup work will go from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Volunteers should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, sturdy shoes, hats and sunglasses and bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

More information is available by calling 537-3371.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com