Volunteers keep Lanier clean with annual Shore Sweep

Lake Lanier is a popular tourist destination during the summer, and as school schedules settle and the autumnal equinox creeps closer, volunteers knew it was time to get out on the lake and pick up the litter and trash that collected over the season.

Cigarette butts, to-go cups, tires, Styrofoam blocks and more were picked up or pulled from the lake waters, either by boat of by volunteers on foot.

There were over 20 locations for volunteers to pick up trash Saturday morning. Organizations including the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers, Keep Hall Beautiful and the Lake Lanier Association volunteered, as well as community leaders, citizens and students.

Shanda Sexton, director of Keep Hall Beautiful said at about 11 a.m., they had collected three to four tons of trash from the waters at Clarks Bridge Park.

More details and final numbers will be released later on.

This volunteer uses a grabber to pick up the trash in one of the shallow areas at Longwood Park.

Gainesville High sophomores Iris Ong (left) and Arly Tinoco (right) volunteered at Longwood Park Saturday because they wanted to do their part.

Shore Sweep is made possible by sponsorship, which were displayed at each location.

Jarrod Henderson (left) and Todd Statton (right) with the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers manned the check-in station at Longwood Park.

At Clarks Bridge Park, many volunteers used their boats to collect trash from the lake. Here, a crane pulls a large piece of debris from a boat into its bed.

Lots of large debris at Clarks Bridge Park, including tires.

The crane dropping the large pieces of trash into its bed.

These volunteers carefully climbed down an embankment to collect empty water bottles, Styrofoam cups and other trash at Longwood Park.

Volunteers were armed with trash bags, gloves, grab-arms and picks to get whatever trash and litter they spotted.

Posted signs guided volunteers to check-in, and street signs enticed potential volunteers to the event.

Photo submitted by Shanda Sexton

Photo submitted by Shanda Sexton

Photo submitted by Jennifer Flowers

http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/9/832318/volunteers-keep-lanier-clean-with-annual-shore-sweep