January 14, 2008
BUFORD - Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR), Allied Waste Industries, Rivers Alive, the Lake Lanier Association and citizen volunteers will be joining forces Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to clean up the famous "Cocktail Cove" area at Lake Lanier Islands Campground in Buford.
"Cocktail Cove," located off the golf course at Lake Lanier Islands, is a popular place for boaters during the summer and is rife with discarded cans, golf balls and other trash. Current low water levels have exposed this normally submerged area, making years of debris build-up accessible.
"We are particularly excited to be partnering with Allied, a waste management company, for the second time in two months, as well as the energetic and experienced volunteers from Rivers Alive and the Lake Lanier Association," said Sally Bethea, Executive Director and Riverkeeper for UCR. "Martin Luther King Weekend is an ideal time to give back to community, and we are expecting a great turnout."
A total of 60 UCR and Allied volunteers cleaned two miles of shoreline Dec. 1 at Lake Lanier, filling two 30 cubic yard roll-offs, including a motor boat which had been submerged in the lake since the 1970s. Rivers Alive and UCR partner regularly to clean up river and lake shores throughout the Chattahoochee watershed. This is the first occasion when all four groups have organized a joint cleanup.
Volunteers are asked to "dress to get dirty and sink in the mud," wear warm clothing and high boots, and bring thick rubber or leather gloves. Bags will be provided.
There will be broken glass and jagged steal along a shoreline that can feel like quicksand, so while children are welcome they must be supervised closely. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver.
Potential volunteers should contact UCR Events and Outreach Director Tammy Morrissey at (404) 352-9828 ext. 12 or tmorrissey@ucriverkeeper.org. Rain date is Jan. 26.
|
