Christopher Purvis

Sweetwater Campground was one of the cleanup areas in this year’s event.

2020 Allatoona Lake Cleanup Is a Success

BY CHRISTOPHER PURVIS

The 35th annual Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup (GLAC) took place Oct. 3. The Lake Allatoona Association (LAA) did a great job of taking precautions, due to the pandemic, so this annual event could take place. The GLAC committee encouraged people to social distance and to wear masks when practical. The traditional post-cleanup picnic was canceled, but LAA and the committee were able to supply participants with gaiters that had the GLAC logo to wear during the event.

Despite current COVID-19 conditions, more than 1,550 people registered for the cleanup. Not bad for this one-day National Public Lands Day event. Georgia Power was unable to participate this year, and several groups, including corps volunteers, stepped up to help pick up the post-cleanup trash bags

Volunteers followed COVID-19 protocols, including wearing masks.

2020 Allatoona Lake Cleanup Is a Success

that had been filled earlier that day. In all, more than 5 tons of trash, debris and tires were picked up by GLAC participants and volunteers. A noteworthy effort was put forth by a group of college students in the Cherokee Mills/Little River area that gathered 80 large bags of trash.

Thanks to all the sponsors, partners and volunteers who make this the top lake cleanup in the nation each year. The event is scheduled again for next fall. Visit the Lake Allatoona Association’s cleanup page on Facebook for more information.

See you next year!

Christopher Purvis is the lead ranger at Lake Allatoona over Partnerships, Volunteers and Project Security. He has been a ranger on Allatoona Lake since 2005.

More than 5 tons of trash was collected by volunteers.

Chattahoochee Tech volunteers at the Great Lake Allatoona Clean Up included (from left): student Tais Pereira-Aquino, along with her husband and son, and student Jessmaine Starks, instructor Stephen Anderson and student Jacques Gody.

Chatt Tech Students Lend a Helping Hand

A group of Chattahoochee Tech Environmental Technology students and their instructor participated in the recent Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup. The Chatt Tech volunteers concentrated their cleanup efforts along the shoreline at the Clark Creek Boat Ramp in Acworth, which is located near the college’s North Metro Campus. Led by Chattahoochee Tech environmental technology program instructor Stephen Anderson, the group filled 20 bags with trash and collected two discarded tires that will be disposed of properly.

“We appreciate these students taking time out of their Saturday to participate in this event and help clean up a portion of the environment here in the community,” Anderson said.

“It was surprising to see so much trash out here that needed to be picked up,” said Chatt Tech student Jessmaine Starks. “It was a lot of fun to participate, and I feel good about helping.”

Students in the environmental technology program at Chattahoochee Tech can earn an associate of applied science degree, which offers a water-quality specialization. The college also offers technical certificates of credit for environmental field technician and water quality technician.