What:              The first 2012 Smith Lake Renew Our Rivers cleanup is May 23-24. Volunteers will meet at the Smith Dam boat launch at 8:30 a.m. and focus cleanup efforts on white-beaded foam removal. Volunteers will break at noon for lunch both days and continue working in the afternoon.

                        This Renew Our Rivers cleanup is coordinated by the Smith Lake Civic Association. In 2011, 60 volunteers removed 11 tons of debris from Smith Lake during four cleanups. More than 6 million pounds have been removed from the reservoir during volunteer cleanups since 2000.

Overview:      Volunteers for Renew Our Rivers have collected more than 12 million pounds of  trash since the  program’s inception in 2000. This year, 29 cleanups are planned through October on the Alabama, Black Warrior, Cahaba, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Mobile and Tallapoosa rivers.

Directions:     From Interstate 65, take Exit 291 onto AL 91 south. After 14.6 miles, turn left onto AL 69 south. In 4.4 miles turn right onto County Road 43/Smith Lake Road. Boat launch access will be on the right in approximately 3 miles.

Contact:         For volunteer information, contact John Kulbitskas at 205-384-5415.