On March 7, nearly 40 volunteers spent their Saturday morning collecting litter and debris from the Hoop Pole Creek Preserve in Atlantic Beach. The Preserve supports a healthy maritime forest and coastal marsh habitat, and is an important natural refuge for fish and wildlife.
During the two hour cleanup, multiple truck loads of litter were removed. Items collected included plastic bottles, cigarette butts, a tire, and several large pieces of lumber found along the marsh edges.
In the mid-1990’s, developers had designs ready to go and, like so many other coastal creeks, Hoop Pole Creek seemed destined for condos and marinas. However, with funding from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the federation was able to purchase the land in 1997. Since then, cleanups have been organized each March. We are especially grateful for the many volunteers who have given up their Saturday mornings and joined together to help keep our coast clean and healthy.
