Nautical Coast Cleanup returns for 30th year

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The Nautical Coast Cleanup is back for 2025, celebrating 30 years of helping the environment and building community.

The St. Clair Shores Waterfront Environmental Committee hosts the event each year.

Mike Droogleever, Nautical Coast Cleanup event director and a St. Clair Shores Waterfront Environmental Committee member, said the cleanup will start at 8 a.m. May 18. Participants will start at the Jefferson Yacht Club on Jefferson Avenue, where they will be served breakfast and listen to some announcements. They then will be shuttled to Veterans Memorial Park or Blossom Heath Park to complete the cleanup at the beaches.

Droogleever recommended participants wear clothing they don’t mind getting dirty. At press time, it was unknown whether participants will be allowed to clean the Chapaton Retention Basin beach due to ongoing construction.

“It should be done enough for us to get through,” Droogleever said. “I hope so, because we didn’t get to do it last year, and there’s no doubt a much larger collection of trash in the rocks over there.”

Gloves and tools will be provided for participants, but Droogleever said there’s nothing wrong with bringing personal tools.

“It could help us with more tools in case we have a bigger turnout, and we are expecting a bigger turnout because it’s the 30th year,” Droogleever said.

The Waterfront Environmental Committee is also celebrating its 30-year anniversary.

Droogleever said the committee was started because of the cleanup.

Macomb County officials will be at the event to educate people about the work at Chapaton and how it helps the lake.

The cleanup will end at 1 p.m., when participants come back to the yacht club for lunch.

Councilwoman Linda Bertges said it is their biggest event of the year. She said this year they are helping students earn their community service hours. She said that in years past they have always had a very nice turnout.

“I love the Waterfront Environmental Committee,” Bertges said. “It’s a great bunch of people and it really gets community-minded (people) together.”

She said little kids were helping out on the beaches last year.

“They were really excited about getting the muck and debris that was there,” Bertges said.

She said it’s amazing to meet so many people who care about the environment as much as they do.

“To see the community come together and to care so much about our coastlines, it’s pretty amazing,” Bertges said.

She suggests participants register online.

“I think that everybody’s going to have a really good time,” Bertges said.

Droogleever said they are looking for more participation from young people this year.

“Prior to the lockdowns in 2020, they used to regularly come out, and it’s been tough to reestablish that relationship,” Droogleever said.

He said another goal is to get at least three canal homeowners associations involved. He explained it would be a commitment to take a closer look at their canals that day and to keep them clean. Droogleever even said they can send helpers out to assist.

“Really what we want to do is strengthen our relationships with HOAs and just let them know that this is an annual event that’s here to support them,” Droogleever said.

Organizers expect a bigger turnout this year due to the anniversary.

To sign up for the event, go to SCScoastcleanup2025.eventbrite.com or to the St. Clair Shores Waterfront Environmental Committee’s Facebook page.