ELBERTON, Ga. – Richard B. Russell Lake is celebrating National Public Lands Day by holding a lake wide clean-up event on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
Volunteer participants are needed to help gather litter and other non-natural debris along the shoreline and islands in and around Russell Lake. Scout groups, civic organizations, church groups, schools, sport clubs, businesses, and families are welcome to participate.
“This year, we are excited to have Richard B. Russell Lake State Park and Calhoun Falls State Park representatives fanning out with us to canvas the lake for trash and debris,” said Richard B. Russell Lake Park Ranger Annette Dotson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District. “Participants can go by boat or vehicle and pick up trash between 9 a.m.-noon anywhere on Russell Lake. Park Areas, Islands, or anywhere along the Shoreline would be great areas to hit.”
Volunteers are asked to bring all trash to either of the state parks to be tallied. The day ends at 12:15 with a free appreciation lunch at Richard B. Russell State Park Rowing Facility Ramp. As a token of appreciation, participants will also receive a free t-shirt and a fee-free federal pass while supplies last, along with a special bag of other freebies.
To register or for more information, call Ranger Dotson at the Richard B. Russell Lake and Dam Project Office at 706-213-3400, 800-944-7207, or email annette.r.dotson@usace.army.mil. Once registered, volunteers will receive more detailed information including potential cleanup sites, trash drop-off locations, and lunch details.
To volunteer, two completed forms are needed. One is a Registration form and the other is an Agreement form. The forms are available online at Registration&Agreement Forms. Both forms can be emailed to Ranger Dotson at annette.r.dotson@usace.army.mil. A NPLD flyer is also available to print and post or share electronically.
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