Palmer’s Island
with Operation CLEANUP
At CBC, we strive to teach our participants how to be good ocean stewards and we know that an important part of that is that we lead by example. As part of our continued efforts on this front, we have committed, along with our partners at Operation Clean Sweep, to get many years’ worth of debris off of Palmer’s Island in New Bedford Harbor before the end of this year.
This initiative started in 2020, when we were going to co-sponsor a clean up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Fast forward to this year, and a closer to normal world, and CBC staff, participants and volunteers have already put in three separate days of work with Operation Clean Sweep and Be the Solution to Pollution.
Two days were regular litter clean ups, which removed 65 bags of debris form the island, as well as various large items. A third day was dedicated to debris lumber. Volunteers carried smaller pieces of wood into four large piles and CBC’s operation manager, Taber, used a chainsaw to cut down some larger pieces so that they could be carried or dragged into the piles. The next step is for a barge to go out there this summer and remove all of the piled wood.
This really is a beautiful, unique spot in our city and if you’ve never been out there, we’d highly recommend a visit! Come for a clean-up or just to enjoy it. Be careful though, because you can only walk out there during low tide.
For more information about the island and its history, check out this website: http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/palmers-island-light-history.html