WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Volunteers can join forces with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers at Bennington Lake located in Walla Walla, Wash., as they honor National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event to benefit public lands. Officially the last Saturday of September, organizers anticipate tens of thousands of Americans of all ages will participate nationwide, volunteering their time and effort to help restore the beauty and vitality of our public lands.
Volunteers can help Corps rangers remove invasive plant species and pick up litter around Bennington Lake. The Bennington Lake National Recreation Trail System attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Individuals and groups are welcome. Volunteers should dress for the weather and environmental conditions -- long pants provide the best protection against shrubbery and biting insects in this wildlife nature area. Also, bring gloves and wear sturdy work shoes. The Corps will provide tools necessary as far as trash bags, clippers, and trash grabbers. Some water will be available but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to minimize the use of paper cups and reduce landfill waste.
Register for this National Public Lands Day volunteer event by emailing Corps of Engineers rangers at
MillCreek@usace.army.mil or send a message to Mill Creek Dam’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/millcreekdam.
Directions to this NPLD event: from Tausick Way near the Walla Walla Community College, turn west onto Reservoir Road and follow event signs to Bennington Lake. The work site is located on the south side of the Mill Creek Storage Dam.
Whether you join a formal public lands event or just grab a trash bag to help pick up litter as you walk the trails in a nature area or park, your efforts help preserve the beauty of public lands for everyone to enjoy. Anyone who enjoys fun in the great outdoors is encouraged to lend a helping hand to America’s lands.
One of every three acres of land in the United States -- nearly 600 million acres -- belongs to the American public. National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Now, seven federal agencies and many state, regional and local governments participate in this annual day of caring for public lands. Last year, NPLD volunteers saved taxpayers an estimated $18 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the country. For more information about National Public Lands Day, visit their website at
www.publiclandsday.org.
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