Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Local river cleanup Oct. 12

Georgia has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and streams that need your help to stay clean.

“Rivers Alive,” Georgia’s Thirteenth Annual River Cleanup, stands poised to do just that - but they need your help. More than 170 cleanups are scheduled throughout Georgia in October, but they need volunteers in order to make these cleanups successful. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages sportsmen’s clubs, civic groups, church groups, businesses and interested citizens to volunteer for a cleanup in their area.

“Our waterways provide us with fresh drinking water, great recreational opportunities like canoeing and fishing, and they serve as a pleasant respite from our busy day to day lives,” said Dr. Carol Couch, Director of the DNR Environmental Protection Division. “Everyone contributes to pollution in our streams. This is your opportunity to help by giving something back to the environment!”

“Rivers Alive” is a partnership between the Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division's Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program and the Department of Community Affair’s Keep Georgia Beautiful Program, and supported by a volunteer advisory board.

The mission of “Rivers Alive” is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia’s water resources. Since its inception many aspects of the campaign have increased, including the number of participating volunteers, the amount of garbage collected and the number of event organizers. Last year, over 24,000 volunteers participated in local cleanups and removed over 380,000 pounds of trash and garbage from state waterways, including tires, bikes and even a safe and telephone booth. This year, the program hopes to have at least 25,000 participants involved in cleanups.

To find a river cleanup near you, go to www.riversalive.org and select “Statewide Cleanups” or “Atlanta Area Cleanups.”

There will be a cleanup of the Flat Creek Waterway Oct. 12. Phone Dennis Chase at 770-719-8425 for more information if you’d like to get involved.