LMRA

Two down, one to go

In the past, holiday weekends in June and July have always been very busy on Lake Martin. The cool, clear, clean water of our Treasured Lake is a magnet for all who seek a getaway location to celebrate, recreate and make memories that will last a lifetime.

While most everyone visiting and enjoying Lake Martin depart after the holiday and leave only footprints, there are still some who leave unpleasant reminders of their visits. Aluminum cans, plastic bottles, paper plates, plastic forks and Styrofoam cups are sometimes scattered on our sandy beaches and scenic roadsides. Occasionally, we find partially burned cans, plastic bottles and even glass bottles left behind in crudely constructed firepits.

The most disgusting sight to find is a firepit filled with trash that will not burn – Oh, and one item I failed to mention: soiled baby diapers.

For many years now, Lake Martin Resource Association has made a strong effort to remove all the trash from the lake shoreline while stressing the importance of keeping it clean. Environmental education has been and continues to be a major focus for our organization.

Partnering with Alabama Power and many local businesses, organizations and volunteers in the annual Renew Our Rivers lake cleanups for more than 18 years has resulted in the removal of more 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

the year. Holiday weekends tend to attract more people, many of whom have heard about Lake Martin and may be visiting for the very first time. Visitors, generally, are here to have a good time, and trash disposal is not high on the to-do list. When departing, they sometimes find they have more disposable trash than will fit in their one available trashcan. So what happens? Trash is not bagged properly; cans are overloaded; bagged trash is left on the ground and becomes a target for forest critters. Visitors are usually unaware that it may be several days before the LMRA cans are emptied, and the drivers are not allowed to get out of their trucks to pick BY JOHN THOMPSON up bags or clean up loose items. The homeowners, renters or other individuals must take responsibility for proper disposal of all trash. No excuses are acceptable. If any of the garbage ends up on the ground, it could end up in Lake Martin and will present a danger to wildlife. Be kind. Love and enjoy Lake Martin and – please – always leave it cleaner than you find it. John Thompson is president of Lake Martin Resource Association. Visit lmra@lmra.info for more information. Garbage that doesn't fit in the trash can could be washed into Lake Martin