2018 Elk River Cleanup Volunteers Needed

​KALB and TVA Invite Volunteers To Elk River Cleanup

TRAIL 2017 Volunteers

​Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful and the Tennessee Valley Authority will sponsor the 2018 Elk River Cleanup on Saturday, March 10th.
 
Volunteers of all ages are invited to participate in this effort.  “We hope to have a large number of volunteers this year as we have in the past,” said Lynne Hart, KALB Executive Coordinator. “KALB can’t accomplish anything worthwhile without volunteers.  They are the lifeblood of this organization.” After a morning of hard work, volunteers will be treated to lunch and prize drawings.
 
The goal of the annual river cleanup is to ...

... bring awareness to the importance of the Elk, and how personal behaviors can cause intentional or unintentional pollution even if we live miles from the river.  Each day approximately 14 million gallons of water is drawn from the Elk River, purified, and sent to our homes and businesses.  Protecting our river benefits everyone and is everyone’s responsibility.

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Volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Hatchery Rd. boat launch off Hwy. 99 in West Limestone.  KALB and TVA will provide trash bags, gloves, and litter grabbers.  Instructions will be given and a group photo taken.  Volunteers will then be disbursed to various locations along the river for cleanup activities.

Girl Scout Troop 1134 worked several years to extricate the tv from the shoreline of the Elk River.

During the previous 7 cleanups held, a total of 352 volunteers removed 29,755 lbs. of trash, debris, and recyclable materials  from the Limestone County portion of the Elk River and surrounding land areas.   “This is appalling to me,” said Lynne Hart, Executive Coordinator of Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful.  “However, I am inspired that so many good people are willing to spend part of their weekend repairing damage done by others.  Let’s hope one day an appreciation of this beautiful resource will be understood and respected by all.”

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2017 Volunteers of the Elk River Cleanup

KALB hopes to bring people together who would like to learn more about the Elk River, who want to help improve the area, or who just enjoy meeting other people and working together.  Cleanups will take place both on water and on land, so there is something for everyone.  Participants may bring personal watercraft.  Organizers ask that any required safety equipment be on board.
 
No Trash Weighing!
 
Once again this year there will be no trash weighing, so trash and debris can be left at each cleanup location.  Ben Harrison, Limestone County Commissioner from District 4, will provide staff and trailers for collecting and disposing of trash.  The Limestone County Commission has supported this event since its inception.
 
Registration
 
It is not necessary to pre-register to participate; however, KALB would appreciate a phone call or email letting them know how many will be attending.  This allows the organization to be prepared with adequate supplies and food. 
 
For more information or to register for the cleanup, call 256-233-8000 or email KALBCares@gmail.com.  Visit KALBCares.com and follow Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful on Facebook.  ​​​

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