Corps seeks National Public Lands Day volunteers to improve Mill Creek trails
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Volunteers can join forces with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers at Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake located in Walla Walla, Wash., as they honor National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 8 a.m. to 12 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 improve trails around Bennington Lake to reduce erosion. 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 for the trail work. Water will be available -- 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 calling Corps of Engineers rangers at 509-527-7165, or visit 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. Last year, 170,000 volunteers worked in more than 2,000 locations across the nation. Now, eight federal agencies and many state, regional and local governments participate in this annual day of caring for public lands. For more information about National Public Lands Day, visit their website at www.publiclandsday.org.
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