The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) is pleased to announce the installation of three litter capture booms. The installation is part of an EPA grant funded project to engage the community in trash removal and prevention, engaging local businesses, existing grassroots efforts, and area schools to reduce water-borne trash and improve the safety, health, and beauty of local creeks. The project will target Jones, Carpenter, and Pond Creek. What happens upstream does not stay upstream. Trapping litter upstream with a litter boom will prevent the negative impacts of litter in downstream locations such as the bayou, bay, and beaches.

The public is invited to watch as the first litter boom is installed at Jones Creek (Lexington Terrace Park) and participate in a creek cleanup on July 31st from 9am to noon. Jones Creek is a 4.5-mile-long freshwater tributary flowing east through the Brownsville and Warrington communities of Escambia County before emptying into the southern arm of Bayou Chico.

The cleanup will occur via land and water. Individuals with kayaks or canoes are invited to paddle the creek and clean areas that are hard to reach from land. There is limited space for paddle crafts and interested individuals should specify if they intend to bring a paddle craft when they register. Volunteers can register online or e-mail Emerson Cheney at edcheney@ppbep.org. The Estuary Program is also looking for long-term volunteers to monitor the boom and collect data on the trash being captured. This data will help the Estuary Program identify sources of trash and develop targeted strategies to reduce the inflow of trash into local creeks.

Individuals that cannot attend the cleanup can still help the Estuary Program to name the three litter capture booms. Name suggestions can be submitted online. Estuary program staff will review and select the final names for the litter capture booms that will be deployed in Jones, Carpenter and Pond Creek. The submitters of the top three winning names will receive a prize.

The Estuary Program is grateful for the support of partners from the Warrington Revitalization Committee, Escambia County, Keep Pensacola Beautiful, Ocean Hour, and Visit Pensacola that are coming together to help support this community cleanup. Closed-toed shoes are required and long pants, sunscreen, hat, bug spray, etc. are recommended. Water will be provided but please bring a reusable water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must have signed parental or legal guardian permission to participate and minors 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.