The year is not half-over. But already, Renew Our Rivers volunteers have removed more than 164,000 pounds of trash and debris from Alabama lakes and rivers.
The lake and river cleanup campaign is celebrating 20 years in 2019.
Since it all began in 2000, more than 117,000 volunteers have joined the effort and collected more than 15.5 million pounds of trash and debris from waterways across the Southeast.
“We are thrilled at the turnout and support of Renew Our Rivers so far this year and look forward to more cleanups later this year,” said Mike Clelland, an Alabama Power Environmental Affairs specialist who helps coordinate the cleanups. Renew Our Rivers typically takes a break in the heat of summer, with cleanups starting again toward the fall.
“We could not do this without our many partners and volunteers, who have helped grow this effort the past 20 years,” Clelland said.
Through the first six months of the year, almost 2,500 volunteers have participated in 17 Renew Our River cleanups, which have been held across Alabama. Cleanups have been held on the Alabama, Black Warrior, Cahaba, Chattahoochee, Coosa and Mobile rivers and Valley Creek in Birmingham.
Another 13 cleanups are planned into fall. The next cleanup is Aug. 3 at Holt Lake on the Black Warrior River. The last cleanup of the year is Nov. 1-2 on Lake Martin.
Remaining 2019 Renew Our River cleanups
Aug. 3: Holt Lake (Black Warrior River)
Contact: Becky Clark at 205-799-2449
Aug. 17: Upper Tallapoosa River
Contact: Lex Brown at 256-239-6399
Sept: 9-10: Smith Lake (Walker County)
Contact: Roger Treglown at 205-300-5253
Sept. 12: Smith Lake (Winston County)
Contact: Jim Eason at msgjeason@yahoo.com
Sept. 12-14: Village Creek
Contact: Yohance Owens at 205-798-0087
Sept. 20: Smith Lake (Cullman County)
Contact: Jim Murphy at 205-529-5981
Sept. 28: Valley Creek
Oct. 4-5: Lake Demopolis
Contact: Jesse Johnson at 334-289-6160 or 251-238-1257
Oct. 15: Dog River (Mobile County)
Contact: Catie Boss at 251-829-2146 or clboss@southernco.com
Oct. 22-24: R.L. Harris Lake (Tallapoosa River-Lake Wedowee)
Contact: Sheila Smith at 205-396-5093 or Marlin Glover at 770-445-0824
Oct. 26: Lake Mitchell (Coosa River)
Contact: Dale Vann at 205-910-3713
Oct. 28-Nov. 2: Neely Henry Lake (Coosa River)
Contact: Lisa Dover at 256-549-0900
Nov. 1-2: Lake Martin (Tallapoosa River)
Contact: John Thompson 334-399-3289 or www.lmra@lmra.info
(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)
