Lake Lanier shore sweep
Even with the rains Saturday afternoon our annual shore sweep was pulled off without a hitch. After working the lake shore for 4 hours we pulled in 5 large blocks of styrofoam and 10 lawn bags of trash. Watch the blog for information on the next Lake Lanier shore sweep and bring the family for an afternoon of fun.
From Lakeside News
Rain didn’t dampen spirits for 21st annual Shore Sweep
By Pamela A. Keene
The pouring rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the nearly 600 volunteers who turned out for the 21st Annual Shore Sweep, held on September 21.
“The volunteers collected between 15 and 20 tons of garbage, Styrofoam and trash,” said Vicki Barnhorst, executive director of the Lake Lanier Association. “Even in the pouring rain, our volunteers are very dedicated.”
Dawson County got a head start on the annual clean-up. For several years, Lake Lanier Association Board Member Gordon Brand has organized a group of volunteers to begin work about two weeks before the actual date of Shore Sweep.
“This gives us a chance to involve people that may not be available on that Saturday but still want to help,” Brand said. “We have meetings ahead of time and organize our boat captains to pick up trash along the shoreline that has been collected leading up to Shore Sweep. It is really a way to be very thorough.”
At the planning meetings, boat captains receive stakes, rope and bags to begin collecting trash farther up into the creeks. “We organize along the Chestatee River and include portions of Hall and Forsyth from 14C to Yellow Creek,” he said. “It’s amazing how much debris is collected.”
This year, Deer Island was designated as a drop-off area for boats that worked Shore Sweep in advance. On Saturday, September 21, Tom Child and Marine Specialties Inc. came by barge to remove the trash and Styrofoam from the island.
“Managing this aspect of Shore Sweep involves a large number of people,” Brand said. “We started this several years ago and it is becoming very popular. When you spread out the amount of time and the number of people doing the work, you can get a lot more done.”
Sponsors include the Marine Trade Association of Metro Atlanta, Mincey Marble, Lake Lanier Islands, Starbucks Foundation, American Proteins, Bald Ridge Marina, Holiday Marina, Sunrise Cove Marina, Aqualand Marina, Lazy Days Marina, Norman’s Landing Restaurant, Gainesville Marina, Habersham Marina, and Port Royale Marina.
For more information, contact the Lake Lanier Association at 770-503-7757 or visit the website at www.lakelanier.org.
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