‘Love Your River’ Cleanup Scheduled for Oct 10

Lowndes County, the City of Valdosta, and WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) are jointly organizing a three-river cleanup in the county, at Troupville Boat Ramp on the Little River, at Sugar Creek on the Withlacoochee River, and at Naylor Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River, plus cleanups in Valdosta on One-mile Branch, Two-mile Branch, and Sugar Creek.

“The City of Valdosta is committed to keeping our waterways clean so we can protect and restore it for us – and future generations. Participating in a river clean-up is one way that citizens can do their part for the river we all love,” said Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson.

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for the event which will be held from 9 AM to 11 AM, on Saturday, October 10, 2020. No boat is required, although if you want to bring a boat, there are water cleanup opportunities at each river location and some of the creeks.

Volunteers are asked to bring sturdy mud boots or shoes, long pants, and clothes that can get wet or dirty, insect repellant, a refillable water bottle, and an emergency phone number. Trash bags and trash pickers will be provided, as well as drinking water and snacks, but bring your own if you can.

Please maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from people not in your household. Please wear a mask when near people not in your household. Extra masks will be available upon request.

The City Cleanup Sites are:

  • VSU/Drexel Park (One Mile Branch)
  • Stone Castle/Mack Drive Two Mile Branch)
  • Salty Snapper (Sugar Creek)
  • Lee Street Pond (One Mile Branch)

The County Cleanup Sites are:

  • Troupville Boat Ramp
  • Naylor Boat Ramp

The effort will be part of Rivers Alive, a program of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The annual Georgia Waterway Cleanup is expected to once again be the largest single volunteer effort to beautify Georgia’s water resources.

Volunteers can sign up and fill out an event waiver here.

For more information, please contact the City of Valdosta Stormwater Division at 229.259.3530.