The Gulf Coast is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind place to live, work and vacation—and we aim to keep it that way!
Whether you’re a local or a returning Alabama Gulf Coast vacationer, we each play an important role in keeping our portion of the coastline clean and clear—now and for many generations to come.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, Leave Only Footprints
That starts with leading a “Leave Only Footprints” lifestyle, which means:
- Removing your beach gear and picking up your trash when leaving the beach
- Staying off the dunes, which helps protect erosion and local wildlife
- Heeding the Beach Warning Flag System
- Adhering to beach rules and not bringing prohibited items to the beach, like glass containers and fireworks, among others
It may not seem like it, but simple practices like these can make a huge impact on our environment. During the first year alone of the Leave Only Footprints operation in 2016, more than 161 tons of waste was removed from the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Imagine what we can accomplish by taking care to leave only footprints year after year!
Another way you can help keep our shorelines clean is by taking part in the annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup, which takes place the third Saturday in September every year. Thousands of volunteers—both local and nonlocal alike—join hands in picking up trash and debris along the coast and other local waterways.
Since the event started in 1988, more than 83,000 volunteers have helped clean up 1.5 million pounds of trash. Pretty amazing, yeah? If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, join us at this year’s Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 21.