What: The annual Renew Our Rivers Smith Lake cleanup in Winston County begins Wednesday, April 11, and finishes Thursday, April 12. Volunteers should report at 8:30 a.m. each day to the Old Yellow Creek Resort Boat Launch. Volunteers should wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes. Minors must have a chaperone to participate. Lunch will be provided at noon each day and the cleanup ends at 3:30 p.m. 

This Renew Our Rivers cleanup is coordinated by Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc., Bankhead National Forest and Alabama Power.

Overview: Volunteers for Renew Our Rivers, one of the Southeast’s largest river cleanup campaigns, have collected more than 15 million pounds of trash and debris since the program’s inception in 2000. This year, 30 cleanups are planned through November on the Alabama, Black Warrior, Cahaba, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Mobile and Tallapoosa rivers.

To learn more, visit https://apcshorelines.com/blog/.

Directions: From Jasper: Travel north for 20 miles on Airport Road and Alabama 257 through Curry and Arley. The route becomes Winston County 41. Turn left onto County Road 63 and continue 5 miles to Houston. Turn left at the Houston Historic Jail onto County Road 61. Follow to the end, past the turnoff to the Houston Recreation Area. County Road 61 becomes Yellow Creek Road near the cleanup gathering site. Look for the boat launch.

Volunteer Contact:  Allison Cochran at 205-489-5111.