John Michaels picks up litter at Clarks Bridge Park
GAINESVILLE - Keep Hall Beautiful and the Lake Lanier Association Saturday invited volunteers to remove litter and Styrofoam from the lake during the 26th Annual Shore Sweep.<br />
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At Clarks Bridge Keep Hall Beautiful Director, Kelly Norman, said people have not learned that litter harms the lake.<br />
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"They haven't," Norman said. "We work 365 days a year trying to teach people how to properly dispose of their debris...It's ugly and it's bad for the environment."<br />
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Norman was also a co-captain at the Clarks Bridge site and added that there was a big push to remove the Styrofoam.<br />
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"We found a Styrofoam recycling organization so it's going to be quite a large number," Norman said. "Styrofoam is a particular detriment because it's a navigation hazard and it's a hazardous material, very unhealthy for the lake's wildlife."<br />
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Along with Clarks Bridge Park, Aqualand Marina, Gainesville Marina, Holiday Marina, Lake Lanier Islands, and Sunrise Cove Marina were Shore Sweep locations.<br />
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Shore Sweep began at 8 A.M. and was set to continue through 1 P.M. Volunteers picked up trash bags and everyone turning in at least one full bag of trash received an event T-shirt. Norman estimated at least 100 people would participate.<br />
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Howard Bradley and his sons Harrison and John became volunteers 10 years ago and come to the Clarks Bridge location every year. Tom Haight has participated in every Shore Sweep since it began 26 years ago in 1992.<br />
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"I like to keep the lake clean," Haight said."I can't understand why people throw trash all over; it's just unbelievable."<br />
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Over the years Haight said he's removed just about anything and everything from the lake and its obvious people use it for a dumping ground.<br />
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"I've picked up toilets, front fenders from vehicles, lawn spreaders, lawn mowers, typewriters, just about everything you could imagine. For the people who are involved in this, it's a great thing that we keep the lake as clean as we can."
