2008 COASTWEEKS CELEBRATION IS SEPTEMBER 12-21
Organizations along Lake Erie encouraged to"Celebrate, Educate and Participate"in nationwide observance

TOLEDO, OH - Ohio's 2008 Coastweeks observance will again focus on the preservation and protection of Lake Erie and its watershed through a variety of cleanup events along the shoreline and throughout its watershed.

This year's observance will kick off Friday, September 12 at the annual meeting of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, set for the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village. Ohio's Coastweeks will run through Sunday, September 21.

Coastweeks is part of an annual nationwide effort to educate the public about protecting America's coastlines. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission coordinates the state's observance.

This year, Ohio's Coastweeks will include International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 20. It is the world's largest one-day volunteer effort to clean up coastlines and waterways. The Dive! Put-In-Bay Harbor Cleanup on South Bass Island is set for Monday, September 15.

Environmental organizations, schools, scout groups, clubs, community groups and individuals throughout Ohio's Lake Erie watershed are encouraged to get involved in this year's Coastweeks by organizing an event.

Visit the OLEC Web site or call 419-245-2514 to learn more about the 2008 Coastweeks, or to obtain an application form to organize an event. The OLEC will provide the tools needed to promote an organization's Coastweeks events.

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established to preserve Lake Erie's natural resources, protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promote economic development of the region. The director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources serves as the commission's chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

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For Additional Information, Contact:
Edwin J. Hammett, Ohio Lake Erie Commission
(419) 245-2514