In the Gulf of Mexico, Every Day is Public Lands Day

The US Fish and Wildlife Service worked alongside volunteers in many oil spill related projects. Here volunteers from the Florida organization "Turtle Patrol" help USFWS relocate sea turtle eggs from Port St. Joe, FL. Photo by Denise Rowell, USFWS.

Last Saturday, thousands of volunteers around the country came together to celebrate National Public Lands Day (NPLD) at more than 2000 sites around the country – including many National Wildlife Refuges and National Parks. NPLD is the nation's largest one-day event in support of public lands.

But even after this week's NPLD events are over, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS) employees along the Gulf of Mexico continue working with our partners – including citizen volunteers – in an exceptional effort to protect and conserve public land resources in face of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. You might say that, since April 20, everyday is public lands day in the Gulf of Mexico.

The rich low country history and landscapes of the Gulf Coast is experienced at the eight National Parks and 20 National Wildlife Refuges around the shore of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Texas.

Each location offers a look into the evocative world of the bayous, marshes, and beaches, Acadian and Cajun cultures and captivating wildlife species. Each park, preserve and refuge also relies on dedicated volunteers who provide thousands of hours of on-going support and restoration work.

"Like the amazing response we had to this year's National Public Lands day, volunteers and FWS and NPS employees work tirelessly to help conserve and protect their public lands," said FWS Southeast Regional Director Cynthia Dohner.

David Vela, National Park Service Southeast Regional Director, concurs. "As we clean up from the oil spill and begin monitoring the long term effects on our cultural and natural resources, our employees rely even more on local governments and volunteers to provide that critical connection between public lands and the values and culture of the region."

More than 200 FWS and NPS employees are currently working with other Federal agencies; tribal, state and local governments; private industry partners; and citizen volunteers to restore, improve and enhance public lands impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In the past week alone, FWS and Park Service employees and volunteers have collected over 20,000 pounds of oil debris from public lands in the Gulf. FWS and NPS employees in the field are working on habitat cleanup, protecting sensitive natural and cultural resources, and integrating into affected Gulf communities as long-term partners to ensure transparency and public participation opportunities for local governments and residents.

"As we broaden our Deepwater Horizon spill response to include restoration activities in the Gulf, we will continue to rely on our FWS and NPS employees and volunteers, along with our partners in the clean-up efforts, to do whatever is necessary to ensure that future generations of Americans will be able to enjoy and appreciate these precious public lands." Dohner said.

To participate, volunteer or visit your public lands, check out www.fws.gov, www.nps.gov or www.restorethegulf.gov .