The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office provided  volunteers from Community Affairs, the Marine Unit and Zone 1 for the 12th Annual St. Johns River Celebration Cleanup.

According to the Ocean Conservancy, "all the trash in our water shares a common origin: ....at a critical decision point, someone, somewhere, mishandled it, either thoughtlessly or deliberately."

Photo left: The Marine Unit with Cub Scout Troup 545 at TJ Stokes Park. 

Much of the litter and debris in our waterways comes from land based sources. Litter doesn't stay where it is dropped and can be transported by storm drains, rivers, tides, currents and wind.

Photo right: Sergeant Cary Cowan and  son volunteered at the Hanna Park clean up site.

Since 2000, the St. Johns River Celebration Cleanup has resulted in 7,575 volunteers contributing 25,685.5 hours and collecting an estimated 294,511 pounds of marine and inland litter.

For Further information about the St. Johns River Celebration Cleanup, click here.

Photo left: Lieutenant John Lamb and son pick up trash in the weeds at Hanna Park.