35th Annual Shore Sweep: Two ways to collect and drop off trash
Marine Specialties, Inc. uses its barge to remove large debris from the lake
It’s the biggest event of the year to give back to Lake Lanier. On September 23, the 35th Annual Shore Sweep will bring together more than 1,000 volunteers to help clean up the shorelines and waters of the 39,000-acre lake.
“They’ll come by land, by water, by car and even golf carts to do their part for our biggest annual event,” said Bonny Putney, vice president of Shore Sweep for the Lake Lanier Association. “We’ve had all kinds of vehicles and volunteers each year and we’re once again hoping for a large turnout.”
The event takes place in two stages:
- advance drop-off locations that open on Saturday, September 9, and close at sundown on Friday, September 22
- day-of collection points where association volunteers will be present to provide supplies 8 am. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 23
The advance drop-off locations are: Shady Grove Park-Beach, Beaver Ruin, Gwinnett Park, Gaines Ferry Island, Beaver Island, Wahoo Island 2WC and Nix Bridge Island. These locations are only accessible by boat.
“We’re asking people at the advance locations to secure debris far enough from the shoreline to prevent it from getting back into the lake,” she said.
Thirteen day-of collection sites include Bald Ridge Marina, Shady Grove-Boat Access Only, Port Royale Marina, War Hill Park, Toto Creek Park, Don Carter State Park, Laurel Park, Holly Park, Gainesville Marina, Balus Creek Boat Ramp, Aqualand Marina, Lanier Islands Boat Ramp and Gwinnett Park. They will be staffed from 8 am. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. T-shirts will be available for volunteers who collect trash on that day, but the association cannot guarantee sizes and there is a finite number of T-shirts at each location.
“Last year’s event blew previous collection records out of the water, and we collected more than 90 tons of trash, garbage and debris with the help of more than 1,400 volunteers,” Putney said. “Over the past 34 years, this event has removed more than 2.16 million tons from the lake and its shores.”
This year’s major sponsors include United Rentals, Watersports Central, Marine Specialties and Hansgrohe.
Visit www.lakelanier.org for more information, to volunteer a boat, register (as a group or as an individual) and learn more details about the event. You can also call the office at 770 744-4547.
LLA gets a new telephone number
Please note: Effective September 1st, the new phone number for the Lake Lanier Association is 770 744-4547. The old number will no longer be operable.
Photos: Courtesy Lake Lanier Association
