EARTH DAY VOLUNTEERS TO REMOVE SCOTCH BROOM NEAR AIRPORT

(Coos County, OR) – As part of the Earth Day activities around the globe, volunteers will gather to eradicate invasive Scotch broom and French broom growing within the Coos County Airport District (CCAD) property near the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. The event is part of the Earth Day activities held in April.

Volunteers will stage west of Airport Heights Park at the intersection of Colorado and Arthur from noon to 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 22nd. They will then spread out along the trail above the airport and pull seedlings and juvenile plants. Cytisus scoparius (Scotch broom) and Genista monspessulan (French broom) are invasive shrubs because they tend to outcompete native plants and potentially spread wildfires.

A billion people globally will likely celebrate Earth Day and undertake projects to protect the planet. The theme “Invest in Our Planet” is designed to persuade businesses, governments, and citizens to improve the environment and give descendants a better and safer future. Local organizer, Steve Skinner, hopes people wanting to take part in Earth Day activities will “show the love” and prevent the spread of the noxious shrub.

The event is made possible by Oregon Bay Area Beautification, North Bend High School National Honor Society, the Airport Heights neighborhood, Coos Watershed Association, and the Coos County Airport District commissioners and staff. Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves and water. A portable restroom will be available. North Bend Sanitation is providing dumpsters at no cost for the event.

CCAD is a special district that owns and operates the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. It consists of 619 landside and airside acres and leases over 33 commercial facilities, that combined with those tenants, help employ over 600 personnel. For more information, call (541) 756-8531 or visit our website www.flyoth.com. You can also follow the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport on Facebook.