Lake Stevens Clean-Up

Local divers and volunteers remove over 800 pounds
of trash from four locations BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR

One of the biggest luxuries residents of Lake Stevens enjoy is the big, beautiful lake sitting directly in the center of their community, however, some lake patrons are using this precious resource as a dumping site for unwanted trash.

Thanks to the divers from Everett Mud Sharks Dive Club, over 800 pounds of that trash was removed from the bottom of the lake.

On Saturday, May 16, 14 scuba divers from the dive club collected trash from four sites around the lake including the swim beach at Lundeen Park, the City Swim Beach on North Lake Shore Drive, North Cove Park Swim Beach and the North Cove Public Boat Launch and docks.

This is the first time the newly formed Everett Mud Sharks Dive Club has done a clean-up dive. Lake Stevens Police Detective and dive club member Jeff Lambier, coordinated the event. 
“This was a great opportunity for us to use our skills from a sport that we all love and put them to use helping the community and the environment,” Lambier said. 

They couldn’t have picked a more perfect day as far as the weather, and the water temperature averaged about 52 degrees. 

This was a collaborative effort by many within the community who volunteered their services that day also.

The divers were assisted by members of the Lake Stevens Police Explorers Troop who collected the trash from the divers as they brought it to the surface.

Members of the Lake Stevens Fire Department and the Police Department’s Marine Patrol Unit provided safety and security for the divers while they were in the water.

City maintenance crews removed the trash from the sites as it was collected and disposed of it accordingly.

The City of Lake Stevens also provided snacks and lunch for the divers and support personnel during the three-hour event.

The divers collected some door prizes including gift certificates and gear donated by Underwater Sports of Everett and two scuba diving trips donated by Deep Sea Charters of Anacortes.

Local business support included Lake Stevens Subway, Main Street Coffee and Jay’s Market.

 “The Club turnout was great and the support from the City of Lake Stevens was wonderful, it really made for a fun day,” Lambier said. “This will be a great yearly Eco Project for the Club we look forward to making it an even bigger event in the future.”

The City of Lake Stevens appreciates the hard work that these divers do but would like to remind everyone that keeping the lake clean should be a top priority to everyone who uses it.

“The City greatly appreciates Detective Lambier and his dive club the Everett Mud Sharks for taking the time to volunteer their services and assist in cleaning up our Lake,” Scotty Swift, Community Program Planner for the City of Lake Stevens said. “The environmental and safety impacts that are created by dumping garbage and debris in the lake affect everyone who uses it.  The City provides recycle containers and garbage dumpsters at the boat launch and at area swim beaches. Please use them.”  

The Mud Sharks Dive Club is supported by “Underwater Sports of Everett” and includes members with diving experience from beginners to Scuba Diving Instructors. 

Anyone interested in the Everett Mud Sharks Dive Club or getting started in the sport of Scuba Diving should contact the staff at Underwater Sports of Everett at 205 East Casino Road #4 in Everett or at www.underwatersports.com.

The Everett Mud Sharks Dive Club also has a Facebook page where they share dive plans, pictures, news and members updates.

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