Five Boston Harbor Islands are getting a facelift.
State conservation officials say multiple government agencies will partner with a Provincetown nonprofit to remove marine debris from five Boston Harbor Islands. The project will seek to restore the natural beauty and ecological health of Great Brewster, Middle Brewster, Outer Brewster, Calf, and Lovells islands, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation said in a statement.
The cleanup, which is slated run run though Sept. 22. As part of the project, the Provincetown-based Center for Coastal Studies will mobilize dozens of volunteers who will camp out on the islands and work in “daily removal teams,” DCR said.
Volunteers will remove a variety of debris, including dock, pier, and bridge timbers, skidder tires, lobster traps, ropes, nets, buoys, metal and fiberglass boat pieces, plastic float components, rebar, plastic foam, and other plastic waste, officials said.
“Efforts will be made to divert debris from landfills by exploring creative reuse options,” officials said. “Items may be repurposed by artists, builders, fishermen, students, and researchers, or delivered to recycling centers specializing in wood, metal, and fishing gear.”
Brian Arrigo, the DCR commissioner, said the “historic cleanup represents a major milestone in our collective effort to protect and preserve [the Harbor Islands] for generations to come.”
Laura Ludwig, director of the Center for Coastal Studies’ marine debris and plastics program, said the effort “is not just about cleaning up debris, it’s about collecting data, finding value in the material where possible, and disposing of all items responsibly.”
Wendi Weber, Northeast regional director for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, said the removal of trash and marine debris will help “restore and enhance nesting habitat for birds, such as the piping plover and common eider, compensating for impacts to migratory birds from the Bouchard Barge-120 oil spill.”
The spill occurred April 27, 2003, when the tugboat Evening Tide was towing the tank barge Bouchard B.120 from Philadelphia to Sandwich, officials said.
The barge grounded on a shoal after entering the western approach to Buzzards Bay, rupturing its hull and spilling oil, officials have said. Migrating birds such as loons and sea ducks were exposed to oil for weeks, and terns and shorebirds encountered a badly contaminated surface when they tried to nest on the shoreline along islands and beaches, officials said. Biologists believe thousands of birds were killed.
More information about the cleanup project is available online.
“This cleanup underscores our commitment to safeguarding these irreplaceable resources and demonstrates the strength of our partnerships in achieving impactful and sustainable results,” said National Parks of Boston Superintendent Michael Creasey.
Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.