(AUSTIN, Texas) — Perfect weather and strong volunteer support drew a record 806 volunteers to Corpus Christi Beaches Saturday for the Texas General Land Office's Winter Cleanup. 

"Turnout was amazing and it was a perfect day at the coast," said Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who pitched in with the cleanup at Padre Island National Seashore.  "I want to give special thanks to the National Guard troops who participated in their first beach cleanup with us at Aransas Pass and Packery Flats." 

All together, Adopt-A-Beach volunteers in Corpus hauled 10.34 tons of trash from 28.5 miles of Coastal Bend beaches and bays. While cigarette butts, soda cans and even dirty diapers continue to top the list of items found on the beach, some more unusual items found included a football helmet, a lawnmower gas tank and a large buoy. 

One item -- a plastic drinking bottle with bite marks on it from a sea turtle -- shows the dangers of marine debris, particularly plastics. Many sea creatures, such as turtles, mistake plastics for food and fill their bellies with the debris. This makes them unable to digest food. 

The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach program is one of the most successful volunteer efforts in the nation. Since 1986, more than 476,000 volunteers have removed more than 9,000 tons of trash from Texas beaches. 

The Winter Cleanup is one of three all-volunteer seasonal cleanups coordinated by the Adopt-A-Beach program. The goal of General Land Office’s Adopt-A-Beach program is to not only remove trash from Texas beaches and waterways but to also increase public awareness of the problems of marine debris and beach litter. 

For additional information on the Winter Texan Beach Cleanup and the Adopt-A-Beach program, or to participate in the next cleanup visit www.texasadoptabeach.org. You may also call the Texas General Land Office toll free at 1-877-TXCOAST. 

Follow the Texas General Land Office on Facebook at http://www.txglo.org/facebook, or Twitter at www.txglo.org/twitter, or YouTube at www.txglo.org/youtube.

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