The public had a unique opportunity to help protect several endangered species March 29 as the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station hosted a major community project to clean up a remote section of beach used as a feeding and nesting area for endangered birds.
The Saturday event was sponsored by the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and hosted by the Navy in cooperation with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the volunteer group Friends of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge. Over 200 volunteers are expected.
Volunteers met at station’s PCH Gate at 9 am. The gate is located off Pacific Coast Highway, south of Seal Beach Boulevard and the Anaheim Bay bridge, and adjacent to the Phillips Street entrance to Surfside Colony. It is only accessible from the southbound lanes of PCH.
Volunteers brought gloves, heavy shoes, hats and sunblock, and must RSVP by calling the Aquarium of the Pacific at (562) 437-3474, extension 2.
The beach area to be cleaned is used by endangered and threatened bird species including the California brown pelican, western snowy plover, light-footed clapper rail, and the California least tern. The area has been heavily impacted by trash carried in by recent storms.
Commencing operations in 1944 as a U.S. Naval Ammunition and Net Depot, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is the Pacific Fleet’s premier ordnance loading and storage installation. The base services approximately 50 United States Navy vessels annually.
For more information, contact the Naval Weapons Station Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Gregg Smith, at (562) 626-7215.
No comments:
Post a Comment