Georgia Waterways Initiative Plans River Cleanup Day

The Henry County (Ga.) Water & Sewerage Authority (HCWSA) will join Henry County Stormwater in hosting Rivers Alive on the South River on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The annual river cleanup will be held along the banks of the South River that run through the Old Snapping Shoals Community—the same site as last year. Volunteers are asked to assemble near 3171 Old Snapping Shoals Rd., just off of River Road in McDonough, for the cleanup efforts. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for those working that day.

The Oct. 2 cleanup is one of many events being held statewide this fall as a part of the Rivers Alive campaign, the annual cleanup event that targets all of Georgia’s waterways. The mission of Rivers Alive is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of the state’s water resources.

Georgia has more than 70,000 miles of streams and rivers, which provide citizens with recreational opportunities such as fishing and canoeing in addition to serving as for public drinking water production sources. The Oct. 2 cleanup will focus on a stretch of the South River approximately 1 mile long.

“We have gained a lot of public involvement in our cleanup efforts of the South River the past few years, thanks to our partnership with Henry County Stormwater and our collective interest in keeping this major waterway in our community clean,” said Tonja Halton-Mincey, environmental specialist for the HCWSA. “We are hoping for good weather and a good turnout so we can keep building on that momentum and spread the word about how important it is to protect and preserve our drinking water resources.”

Rivers Alive is supported by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Div. and its Adopt-A-Stream Program, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and its Keep Georgia Beautiful Program, in cooperation with Help the Hooch. The state’s first organized river cleanup, which facilitated the growth of Rivers Alive, was in 1992.

Complete details of the Rivers Alive event, including registration and release forms, are available at www.henrycountystormwater.com.

Source: Henry County Water & Sewage Authority