40th International Coastal Cleanup at Woolley Park

On Saturday September 20th, employees from the FDEP Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (RCP) traded their desks for the shoreline to take part in the 40th International Coastal Cleanup, hosted locally by Keep Wakulla County Beautiful (KWCB). This annual event unites volunteers worldwide in a shared mission: protecting oceans and shorelines from marine debris.

Members from several RCP teams, the Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP), Clean Boating and Beaches’ Coastal Engineering and Geology, served as site captains at key coastal locations, leading and organizing dozens of volunteers. Amy DeGraw and Chris Stahl coordinated cleanup efforts at Mashes Sands, while Kristen Becker and Thomas Cottle did the same at Shell Point. At Woolley Park, Tiffany Herrin, Anne Rodney, and Kenley Herbert led tabling efforts and engaged the community with fun and educational outreach on marine debris. Each site saw an impressive turnout, reflecting the community’s strong commitment to stewardship.

Volunteers enjoyed a lively post-cleanup gathering at Woolley Park, featuring lunch, entertainment, prize drawings and the always-popular Weigh Your Butts contest to highlight the impact of cigarette litter.

A big thank you to KWCB, our staff for their dedication and to all partners and volunteers for making this year’s cleanup a success!