The Lake Lanier Association is getting set for its 35th annual Shore Sweep cleanup event this weekend.
The effort brings together volunteers to clear trash from the lake's shorelines. This year's event will run Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Victoria Clevenger, marketing and communications coordinator for the Lake Lanier Association, said the association will offer 13 sites where volunteers can pick up supplies to begin collection efforts or drop off their collected trash when they're done.
"It's a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure cleanup," Clevenger said. "That means you can go to a site first to pick up supplies, or if you know where the trash is and you want to grab it and then go to a site to drop it, that works too."
Clevenger said last year's event set a record with 90 tons of trash collected. She said while the collection effort was strong, the association always hopes to see less trash on the shoreline.
"That is a huge benchmark, but of course we would love to see that number go down this year and the volunteers that come to participate to up," Clevenger said.
The full list of sites hosting Shore Sweep Saturday can be found on the association's website. Clevenger added that if someone sees a large or dangerous piece of trash that they're not sure how to handle or collect, they should note its location and visit one of the sites to tell an association member so it can be handled safely.
She said volunteers can also help from the water as well as from walking the shore.
"We do encourage vessels of all sizes, whether that be a big boat or a really small kayak. Anyone is welcome to bring out the vessels," Clevenger. "It's not super formal. It's trash at the end of the day and we just want to get it off the lake."
Clevenger said the ultimate goal is to improve the quality of Lake Lanier for everyone who uses it.
"It's a very unique resource that we have right here in the North Georgia area and we want to protect it," Clevenger said. "Most importantly, it's really essential to do so. It provides the drinking water to all of Atlanta, so not only is it the right thing to do and the fun thing to do if you live near the lake, but it also is quite essential for our life and well-being in this area."
