Russ Lewis has dedicated himself to beach cleanups, covering an 8 mile section of shoreline from the Oysterville beach approach to the north end at the tip of Leadbetter point. He has removed tons of washed-up debris, preventing it from polluting our ocean and harming marine life. His work has not only kept our shores pristine but has also provided valuable data to NOAA and other ocean science and helping conservation organizations such as the Hatfield Marine Science Center who have kept track of dumpster tip out weights reported by Russ that amounted to date 102 tons of trash/debris having been removed from our shoreline by both Russ and other volunteers dating back to 2012. Russ has also participated in each Grass Roots Garbage Gang Long Beach clean-up since 2004 including the July 5th morning after clean-up thus making it over 20 years striving to keep our shoreline as clean as possible both for public and the marine environment.
Russ has done this work humbly, tirelessly, and without seeking recognition—but his impact is undeniable. The tons of trash he has removed are measurable, but the ripple effect of his work is truly immeasurable. He is a local treasure and a true steward of our environment.
