BISCI 2011-2012:
Baker Island Shoreline Cleanup Initiative
Marring the natural and historic beauty of Baker Island are the inevitable reminders of modern human intrusion: bleach jugs, chunks of styrofoam, and wire lobster traps in any condition clutter the shore. Boulders are wrapped with colorful fishing rope, and battered buoys are strewn far into the woods. Trash brought by visitors, storms and the tides has accumulated for decades. The Park makes periodic attempts to clean up the shore but has acknowledged that the task is beyond the scope of their resources.
All our planning revolves around three primary goals:
1. To remove and process all “man-made materials” -- recycling as high a percentage as feasible and returning serviceable fishing equipment to its rightful owners;
2. To take great care not to disrupt any sites of archaeological significance; and
3. To create minimal impact on visitor experience, yet ultimately raise environmental awareness.
The nuts and bolts
Most of Baker Island’s coastline is hostile to landing. The shores are comprised of varying granite blocks meeting dense undergrowth. In this environment, all items will need to be transported; most over difficult terrain for some distance. Planning and coordination will be vital to use our resources effectively. We will set up 5-6 staging areas (out of view) where a spur trail comes to the shore or in a particularly heavily littered area. Volunteers will collect debris, moving it to staging areas, then eventually to the harbor.
There are dozens of lobster traps and a significant volume of plastic bottles and damaged buoys. By early estimates we think we may fill some 200 bags. There is also a substantial quantity of washed-up lumber. Because of the nature of this job (i.e., virtually everything gets carried by hand at least 1.5 miles), we have estimated a required 500 hours of labor. Obviously we will be generating volunteer support wherever possible. We will also be seeking “Free Rides” for these items to Mount Desert Island. Keepers of Baker Island has a core group of volunteers committed to this project and we are hoping to encourage other community members and organizations to join our efforts.
KOBI expects to collaborate on some level with several other organizations and has initiated relations with a dozen to date, with positive results.
"On board" with KOBI are:
Coincidentally, the state of Maine promotes a statewide cleanup during Coast Week, Sept. 17-24. (MaineCoastweek.org). KOBI received a great boost of support from over two dozen volunteers who came out Saturday morning, Sept. 17. Coordinated by KOBI's John Cesari and led by Ranger David Donovan, Friends of Acadia's Terry Begley, and other volunteers, they helped bag up and lug trash for a few hours, working on the south, southeast, and northeastern shores.
There were groans from some as they were called back to shore to board M/V Miss Samantha, provided by the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co... because Baker is so beautiful, but also because it was clear that the work done so far is still only a fraction of the cleanup that remains to be done.
"How can I leave a single piece of trash behind?" moaned an enthusiastic College of the Atlantic student.
If you would like to know more or are interested in helping, please feel free to contact KOBI!
[email protected] or use "Contact" link to the left
All our planning revolves around three primary goals:
1. To remove and process all “man-made materials” -- recycling as high a percentage as feasible and returning serviceable fishing equipment to its rightful owners;
2. To take great care not to disrupt any sites of archaeological significance; and
3. To create minimal impact on visitor experience, yet ultimately raise environmental awareness.
The nuts and bolts
Most of Baker Island’s coastline is hostile to landing. The shores are comprised of varying granite blocks meeting dense undergrowth. In this environment, all items will need to be transported; most over difficult terrain for some distance. Planning and coordination will be vital to use our resources effectively. We will set up 5-6 staging areas (out of view) where a spur trail comes to the shore or in a particularly heavily littered area. Volunteers will collect debris, moving it to staging areas, then eventually to the harbor.
There are dozens of lobster traps and a significant volume of plastic bottles and damaged buoys. By early estimates we think we may fill some 200 bags. There is also a substantial quantity of washed-up lumber. Because of the nature of this job (i.e., virtually everything gets carried by hand at least 1.5 miles), we have estimated a required 500 hours of labor. Obviously we will be generating volunteer support wherever possible. We will also be seeking “Free Rides” for these items to Mount Desert Island. Keepers of Baker Island has a core group of volunteers committed to this project and we are hoping to encourage other community members and organizations to join our efforts.
KOBI expects to collaborate on some level with several other organizations and has initiated relations with a dozen to date, with positive results.
"On board" with KOBI are:
- individual volunteers, residents of all ages from near and far;
- local kayaking partners;
- the GOMLF (Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation), which conducted a recent similar cleanup of Gott's Island and is sharing experience and support;
- the Maine Bureau of Marine Patrol (which has given KOBI ED license to molest--i.e., touch--fishing gear and will help trace its rightful owners).
- Clean Waters, Clean Shores
Coincidentally, the state of Maine promotes a statewide cleanup during Coast Week, Sept. 17-24. (MaineCoastweek.org). KOBI received a great boost of support from over two dozen volunteers who came out Saturday morning, Sept. 17. Coordinated by KOBI's John Cesari and led by Ranger David Donovan, Friends of Acadia's Terry Begley, and other volunteers, they helped bag up and lug trash for a few hours, working on the south, southeast, and northeastern shores.
There were groans from some as they were called back to shore to board M/V Miss Samantha, provided by the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co... because Baker is so beautiful, but also because it was clear that the work done so far is still only a fraction of the cleanup that remains to be done.
"How can I leave a single piece of trash behind?" moaned an enthusiastic College of the Atlantic student.
If you would like to know more or are interested in helping, please feel free to contact KOBI!
[email protected] or use "Contact" link to the left
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The Baker Island Shoreline Cleanup Initiative was a successful project, both in terms of cleaning up Baker Island, and also finding like minded individuals and organizations for collaboration with KOBI.
Our original estimates were 100 lobster traps, 200-300 bags of trash and about FIVE HUNDRED HOURS to remove these items. These numbers appear low by about 25%.
KOBI underwrote over 200 hours of labor and enjoyed about another 100 hours of volunteer efforts. Baker offers some real logistical challenges but use of the deer paths to help stage items and shuttling some from the barn to the landing with a tractor saw our efforts succeed in cleaning up more than half of the Island.
Our original estimates were 100 lobster traps, 200-300 bags of trash and about FIVE HUNDRED HOURS to remove these items. These numbers appear low by about 25%.
KOBI underwrote over 200 hours of labor and enjoyed about another 100 hours of volunteer efforts. Baker offers some real logistical challenges but use of the deer paths to help stage items and shuttling some from the barn to the landing with a tractor saw our efforts succeed in cleaning up more than half of the Island.