Staff from NCCOS and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, co-located at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory (COL) in Oxford, Maryland, partnered with U.S. Coast Guard Station Oxford personnel in a clean-up event to promote environmental awareness for Earth Day 2018. On the morning of April 20th, the group collected litter from several miles of roads, parks, and beaches in the Town of Oxford, including the water’s edge at the laboratory. The team sorted and disposed of recyclable and non-recyclable items as appropriate. The event helped beautify the town’s entrance and main pedestrian areas, protect surrounding waterways from marine debris, and build fellowship with the local community.

NCCOS and Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff from Cooperative Oxford Laboratory partnered with U.S. Coast Guard Station Oxford personnel for an Oxford, Maryland, clean-up event to support Earth Day 2018. Credit: BM2 D. Stricklin, USCG.

NCCOS/COL participants included Suzanne Skelley (Director), Felix Camacho, Eric Daniels, A.K. Leight, Shawn McLaughlin and Gretchen Messick. Maryland Department of Natural Resources participants included Carol McCollough and Michael Simonsen (CAPT, R/V Chesapeake). BM2 Daniel Stricklin and nearly a dozen other U.S. Coast Guard personnel from USCG Station Oxford participated in the event.

Earth Day participants from USCG Station Oxford load lumber and other debris collected from shoreline of Cooperative Oxford Laboratory into back of a pick-up truck (left). Black trash bags contain litter gathered throughout the Town of Oxford. Suzanne Skelley (Director, NCCOS/COL) and Maryland Department of Natural Resources employee Michael Simonsen (CAPT, R/V Chesapeake) help load debris (right). Credit: Shawn McLaughlin, NCCOS/COL.