SAVANNAH, Ga. – As part of the annual National Public Lands Day celebration, officials at Richard B. Russell Lake seek volunteers to help clean up shoreline and islands at the reservoir along the Georgia and South Carolina border, on Sept. 28.
The event brings together individuals, groups, families, scouting organizations, churches and businesses to give a few hours of labor to maintain public lands for all to enjoy, according to Park Ranger Annette Dotson at Russell Lake. Volunteers will be assigned shoreline areas for cleanup. Boaters can bring boats and be assigned islands in the reservoir. The action begins at 9 a.m. with registration at the project office, 4144 Russell Dam Drive, Elberton, Georgia. It ends at noon with a free picnic lunch at the Russell Project Office. Volunteers and groups can register early and be assigned an area before Sept. 28.
It’s easy to register, according to Dotson. Simply stop by the Russell Lake Project Managers Office, or call the project office. Once registered, volunteers will receive more detailed information including potential litter collection sites, trash drop-off locations, and lunch details. The volunteer registration forms are also available online at https://go.usa.gov/xVZJU for the sign-up form and https://go.usa.gov/xVZJd for the volunteer agreement. Both are required.
“The day ends at the project office at lunch time with a free lunch for your hard work,” Dotson said. “The picnic includes food, fee-free federal day passes (while supplies last), and a token of our appreciation for all your hard work.”
National Public Lands Day is sponsored by the National Environmental Education Foundation and is a nationwide day of service for volunteering at local, state and federal public lands. The cleanup is also part of Georgia's statewide Rivers Alive program.
For details contact Dotson at 706-213-3406, toll free at 800-944-7207, ext 3406, or email at annette.r.dotson@usace.army.mil.
“Everyone can enjoy our forests, lakes, and recreation areas, so it only seems fair to help keep them clean and pristine for all to enjoy,” Dotson said. “Each year we ask the residents that live around beautiful Russell Lake to set aside just one day to celebrate and give back to the lands that give us so much.”
– 30 –