Two down, one to go
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n the past, holiday weekends in June and July the year. have always been very busy on Lake Martin. The Holiday weekends tend to attract more people, cool, clear, clean water of our Treasured Lake is many of whom have heard about Lake Martin and a magnet for all who seek a getaway location to celmay be visiting for the very first time. Visitors, genebrate, recreate and make memories that will last a erally, are here to have a good time, and trash dislifetime. posal is not high on the to-do list. When While most everyone visiting and departing, they sometimes find they enjoying Lake Martin depart after the have more disposable trash than will fit holiday and leave only footprints, there in their one available trashcan. So what are still some who leave unpleasant happens? reminders of their visits. Aluminum cans, Trash is not bagged properly; cans plastic bottles, paper plates, plastic forks are overloaded; bagged trash is left on and Styrofoam cups are sometimes scatthe ground and becomes a target for fortered on our sandy beaches and scenic est critters. Visitors are usually unaware roadsides. Occasionally, we find partially that it may be several days before the burned cans, plastic bottles and even cans are emptied, and the drivers are not LMRA glass bottles left behind in crudely conallowed to get out of their trucks to pick BY JOHN THOMPSON structed firepits. up bags or clean up loose items. The most disgusting The homeowners, rentsight to find is a firepit ers or other individuals filled with trash that will must take responsibility not burn – Oh, and one for proper disposal of item I failed to mention: all trash. No excuses are soiled baby diapers. acceptable. If any of the For many years now, garbage ends up on the Lake Martin Resource ground, it could end up Association has made a in Lake Martin and will strong effort to remove present a danger to wildall the trash from the lake life. shoreline while stressing Be kind. Love and the importance of keeping enjoy Lake Martin and – it clean. Environmental please – always leave it education has been and cleaner than you find it. continues to be a major focus for our organization. John Thompson is Partnering with president of Lake Martin Alabama Power and many Resource Association. Visit local businesses, organizalmra@lmra.info for more tions and volunteers in the information. annual Renew Our Rivers lake cleanups for more than 18 years has resulted Garbage that doesn't fit in the trash can could be in the removal of more washed into Lake Martin than 160 tons of trash from the Lake Martin shoreline. In addition, we have removed more than 800 automobile and truck tires. The introduction of the Treasured Mile program a few years back helped tremendously to keep popular islands litter free. The adopters take personal pride in making certain these areas are kept clean throughout
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