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Great Lake
Allatoona Cleanup expected to draw thousands on Sept. 12
By
Pamela A. Keene
Now in its 24th year, the Great Allatoona Lake
Cleanup draws record numbers of volunteers each year to collect
trash along the shorelines of Allatoona Lake. This year’s event will
be held on Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m. until noon.
Afterward, volunteers can attend the picnic at Riverside Day Use
Area for free food, entertainment and prizes.
“Anyone looking for community pride, a little work,
and a lot of fun, can participate,” said Ron Papaleoni with the Lake
Lanier Preservation Authority, which organizes the event each year.
“Sign up your scout troop, family, friends, neighborhood, church,
community organizations or work place. Individuals are also welcome
to join the cleanup effort.”
Pre-registration is recommended by going online to
the volunteer page of the organization’s website at
www.allatoonacleanup.org. On the day of the event, participants
may go to any of the designated registration points for complete
information.
“Wear jeans with old shoes and socks, because you may
get into the woods and brush picking up trash,” Papaleoni said.
“Work gloves will also be helpful. And ask people to bring
refreshments and water for the morning work time, life preservers
for children and non-swimmers.”
Lake Allatoona is one of the most visited U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers projects in the nation with more than seven
million visitors in 2008.
“Its closeness to Atlanta and expanding urbanization
has become a heavy burden on the lake and its resources,” Papaleoni
said. “Rapid development in the area and increasing visitation to
the lake only strengthens the need for this environmental and
educational conservation partnership.”
The Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup was created in 1986
to serve a two-fold purpose – first to serve as a hands-on
educational experience for the public awareness of harmful effects
that litter and waste can have on their natural resources; and
secondly, to clean the shoreline of tons of trash and debris,
protecting the environment and its resources, and saving thousands
of taxpayer’s dollars. Since that time, the partnerships with
organizations and businesses has expanded as the role of the cleanup
becomes ever more important.
In 1999, the Georgia State Legislature created the
Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority to “restore; preserve and
protect” the water quality of Lake Allatoona. Over the past few
years, LAPA and the Corps have worked together on a number of
projects to accomplish this mission. This year, the Corps has asked
LAPA to take over the logistics and operations of the Great Lake
Allatoona Cleanup.
The cleanup is a partnership between LAPA, the Corps
of Engineers, corporate sponsors, marinas, scouting groups, boaters,
civic organizations and others. In 2008, the Great Lake Allatoona
Cleanup drew more than 3,800 volunteers from across metro Atlanta.
More than 24 tons of trash was collected from more than 250 miles of
shoreline.
To volunteer, submit the form on the webpage at
www.allatoonacleanup.org or call Erin Chavda 678 801-4010 or Ron
Papaleoni at 678 801-4011.
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