Canadian and American divers will be at Restoule Provincial Park this September to conduct an underwater beach clean-up. The local coordinator for ‘Project Aware’, Raymond Belec, explained that it is a global organization.
“It has removed some of the millions of tonnes of refuse that ends up in our oceans and inland waterways every year,” said Belec.
Team members working on the Restoule clean-up effort will focus on three beaches and two boat launches.
“We will be putting dive teams in the water from the various clubs, the Kirkland Lake dive club and the North Bay dive club. We have two JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) divers coming from the United States Navy and we have two Canadian Navy divers coming, as well as a few commercial divers,” added Belec.
Environmental awareness is behind every dive.
“We’re doing something really great for the environment. Restoule is a beautiful park and it really needs this type of attention, so we’re hoping we’ll get a lot of divers out just for that reason alone,” said Belec.
Diving teams will get back-up support from crews on the water.
“The divers will bring the refuse up to the canoes, and the power boats will set a perimeter around the beach so nobody can get in there while we have divers in the water.”
The local Project Aware committee decides which beaches require clean-up efforts.
“We do a reconnaissance dive first to find out how much refuse is in the water, and if it’s worth the effort.”
Belec went on to say, “We find we’re coming across things like medical sharps and things like that, that makes it well worth it, because we focus not so much on marinas, but on swim beaches where there are children in the water.”
Project Aware has brought its conservation work to many northern lakes.
“Over the past seven years we’ve done a lot of beaches on Lake Temiskaming, but also Larder Lake beach we’ve done a couple times, and the Provincial Parks as well. “
The organization is hoping to get a good turnout for the September 11th dive.
