Oct. 14, 2008

What: The fall Smith Lake cleanup is Monday, Oct. 20 through Wednesday, Oct. 22. Volunteers with boats will meet each day at 8 a.m. at the Smith Lake Dam boat launch. The cleanup will target Styrofoam.

This Renew Our Rivers cleanup is coordinated by the Smith Lake Civic Association. Cleanups have been held twice annually since 1994. In April, nearly 20 volunteers collected more than 50 tons of trash.

Overview:  Volunteers for Renew Our Rivers, the Southeast’s largest river cleanup,
have collected more than 9 million pounds of trash and debris from Alabama and Southeast rivers since its 2000 inception. Twenty-eight cleanups are planned through the end of October.

Cleanups are held on the Cahaba, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Black Warrior and Mobile rivers in Alabama.

Directions: Directions to Smith Lake Dam boat launch
 From Birmingham, take Interstate 65 to Cullman. Exit Highway 69 South, turn left and cross over the interstate. Travel 15 miles just beyond Sipsey River and look for Smith Dam Road. Turn right and look for dam on right.

Contact: Jim Beason (205) 387-2654 or Charles Boyd (205) 221-2183.

Media Contact: Keisa Sharpe (205) 257-4155.