Blue skies and windy weather greeted approximately 110 volunteers who converged on Old Salem Park to participate in the 2011 Rivers Alive on Lake Oconee on Saturday, Oct. 1. The event was part of the statewide annual Rivers Alive cleanup of streams, rivers, and lakes in Georgia.

In 2010, there were 226 events and more than 24,000 volunteers that cleaned more than 2,149 miles of roadways, streams, lakes and rivers and collected over one ton of garbage in the state of Georgia. More than 25,000 people are expected to volunteer in the 2011 statewide cleanup effort.

The organizer and sponsor of the Rivers Alive on Lake Oconee is the Lake Oconee Water Watch (LOWW). For the first time this year, the trash collected during the Rivers Alive on Lake Oconee was separated for recycling. GreenWorks brought recycling bins and a large trailer for the materials that will be recycled rather than be put in a landfill.

Each year during the cleanup, the volunteers pick up some very unusual items around the lake. This year’s unusual items included a dead possum, a Christmas tree, and a women’s pocket book. Other items included bags, bottles, car parts, batteries, rope, fishing line, light bulbs, motor oil bottles, a cell phone, buoys, diapers, lighters, and a vast array of other items.

Walking volunteers cleaned up areas around bridges, boat ramps, parks, shorelines, and public access areas. Volunteers worked for about 3 hours cleaning up a number of sites around Lake Oconee. All the cleanup volunteers received goody bags, a Rivers Alive T-shirt, a great lunch, and live entertainment. A silent auction for several nice items provided by event organizer Janet Pearson was held for cleanup participants.

Groups participating in the cleanup included Lake Oconee Water Watch (the organization sponsoring the cleanup); Georgia Power Company and its employees; Putnam County High School (Beta Club); Episcopal Church of the Redeemer; Citizens Involvement Committee (Reynolds Plantation); Lake Oconee Anglers (Reynolds Plantation); Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam counties; Kiwanis Club; Redeemer Espicopal Academy; Brownie Troop 60056; Rock Eagle Environmental Education, and Georgia Watersports.

In addition to the groups, several individuals participated in the cleanup. “Most of the volunteers were from the local area but volunteers also came from Rockdale County, Newton County, and from the city of Athens,” said Janet Pearson, the event organizer.

Georgia Power provided cleanup supplies, organizational support, use of the facilities at Old Salem Park, and Georgia Power employees volunteered their time by participating in the cleanup. Georgia Power employees also cooked a great lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers for all the volunteers.The volunteers were entertained by Grammy-nominated singer Caroline Aiken from Athens and Kelly Hoyle Fuller from Greene County.

Local event donors/sponsors for the cleanup included Lake Oconee Water Watch; Bank South; Farmers & Merchants Bank; Exchange Bank; The Peoples Bank; Georgia Power and its employees; Body Plex of Lake Oconee; Crow Marine; GreenWorks; Ann & Alan Foster; Haband; Hallman Wood Products; Lake Oconee Dentistry; Oconee Boatlifts; Publix; Reynolds Plantation; Sav-A-Lot BP Station; Sheriff Howard Sills; Lyn Clark; Charlotte Dendtler; Anna Haslbauer; Jim Wagner; Virginia Linch; Ellen Pierce; Roundtree’s IGA; and Elaine Sanders.     

The Lake Oconee area should be thankful for Janet Pearson and the Lake Oconee Water Watch for their continuing and dedicated efforts not only for monitoring the water quality in Lake Oconee but for continuing to orgainze and sponsor the Rivers Alive on Lake Oconee each year in an effort to keep the Lake Oconee shoreline and surrounding areas clean.

“I would like to thank all those who volunteered and worked during this year’s cleanup,” said Pearson. “Special thanks to Anna Haslbauer and Jim Wagner for their organizational support during the weeks leading up to the cleanup”. Remember; always take a trash bag along on outings to the lake. Don’t be tempted to dump your trash into and around the lake. Keep Lake Oconee and all our lakes, rivers, streams and roadways clean and beautiful for all to enjoy.

See you next week.