Annually, the state of Georgia sponsors the Rivers Alive program to cleanup the state’s rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs.

This year, more than 25,000 people were expected to volunteer during statewide cleanup events. As part of the Rivers Alive program, Georgia Power sponsors the Renew Our Rivers program, and on Wednesday, Oct. 6, more than 130 volunteers descended on Lake Sinclair to take part in the seventh annual Lake Sinclair cleanup.

The trash was collected from shoreline sites, including Twin Bridges, Highway 441, and some of the lake’s islands. The trash included bottles, cans, paper, plastic worms, tires, boards, plastic chairs, bait cups, plastic bags and a $5 bill.

Keeping Lake Sinclair clean, beautiful and a good place to fish is a cooperative responsibility between lake landowners, lake visitors, Georgia Power and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. In many ways, the lake has improved in terms of its shoreline beauty because of better construction practices.

We still have a serious litter problem on and around the lake that needs attention, but overall the litter situation has gotten better. The amount of trash collected during the annual cleanup over the last several years has declined. In 2006, the amount of trash collected during the annual cleanup was 35.07 tons. Since 2006, the amount of trash has dropped to 13.47 in 2007, then to 2.14 tons in 2008 and to 1.2 tons in 2009.  

Georgia Power manages the Lake Sinclair shoreline as it does other lakes owned by Georgia Power. All shoreline projects are governed and permitted using Georgia Power’s publication Shoreline Management Guidelines, and that publication is available to landowners, builders, realtors and interested parties at Lake Sinclair’s Land Management Office. The publication is also available online by going to www.geor giapower.com/lakes/sin clair.asp and clicking on “shoreline management.”

The purpose of Georgia Power’s guidelines on shoreline development is to provide a consistent plan for development while protecting the environment and the aesthetic qualities of the lake. If you have questions or you are planning a shoreline project, call the Georgia Power Land Management office for Lake Sinclair at (706) 485-8704.  

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) works with Georgia Power to manage the fisheries within the lake and improve the lake’s fishery habitat. GDNR has several fishery improvement projects under way on the lake, and that includes a project to add different types of shoreline grasses.

Seawalls although attractive, do not provide the best shoreline environment for the lake’s fish populations. New seawalls are now required to have riprap placed in front of the seawall when the seawall is initially constructed. In addition, many landowners are adding riprap to existing seawalls to prevent erosion and protect the seawalls. Rip-rap is fish friendly material. Algae will grow on the rocks, and that attracts small fish that feed on the algae. The rocks also provide hiding places for small fish and other creatures like crawfish.

The GDNR has also undertaken a project to place fish attractors within the lake to improve fishing, to provide areas for spawning and to provide shelter for the fish from predators. This project has been going on for several years, and a large network of permanent attractors has been placed in the lake. I have and will provide the GPS co-ordinates for those attractors in a future article.       

Cooperation from the general public and lake property owners who use the lake for boating, fishing and other recreation activities can go a long way to keep the lake clean and make lake cleanups unnecessary. The majority of the trash collected by the volunteers last week was placed in and around the lake by those who are unconcerned and do not care about keeping the lake a beautiful resource for all to enjoy.

Remember; always take a trash bag along on outings to the lake. Do not be tempted to dump your trash around or in the lake. Please keep Lake Sinclair and all our lakes, rivers and streams clean and beautiful for all to enjoy. A reminder that the lake drawdown will begin Oct. 20, and if you are planning any type of shoreline work during the drawdown, you need to get a permit from the Georgia Power Land Office. See you next week.   

Outdoor Columnist Bobby Peoples can be contacted via e-mail at brpeoples@windstream.net.