Renew Our Rivers, the Southeast’s largest river cleanup campaign, kicks off the 2007 spring and summer schedule with a cumulative goal of removing 11 million pounds of trash and debris from Alabama and southeast rivers. There are 19 cleanups planned from Feb. 24 through Aug. 18.

So far, more than 6,000 volunteers, including Alabama Power employees, civic groups, schools and homeowner and boat owner organizations, have participated in Renew Our Rivers. Cleanups are held on the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Black Warrior and Mobile rivers in Alabama and the Upper Coosa in Georgia and for the first time on the Cahaba River.

Since its inception in 2000, volunteers have removed some 7.5 million pounds of trash, Styrofoam and other litter from Alabama and Georgia lakes. In 2006, 1.71 million pounds of trash was collected during the spring and fall cleanups.

The project continues to be recognized nationally. In December 2006, Renew Our Rivers received the 1st place Litter Prevention Award from Keep America Beautiful, its second national honor from the organization. The award was presented at KAB's annual conference in Orlando, Fla. Earlier this year, the Renew Our Rivers program won the prestigious Outstanding Stewardships of America's Rivers award from the National Hydropower Association.

The first Renew Our Rivers cleanup took place in the spring of 2000 on Lake Neely Henry near Gadsden, spearheaded by Alabama Power in cooperation with Keep Etowah Beautiful.                    

February 19-24 Lake Eufaula (Chattahoochee River)
The cleanup will be held during the week at varying locations on the lake. Volunteers for the Saturday, February 24 event will meet at the U.S. Coast Guard Station located at 160 Chewalla Drive, in Eufaula, at 8:00 a.m. The cleanup will end at 11:30 a.m. followed by a picnic lunch.Contact: Dugg Ingram (334) 619-1138, or Michelle M. McAndrews (334) 616-4300, for information on these sites and other information concerning the cleanup.

March 3 Yates and Thurlow Reservoirs (Tallapoosa River)
Volunteers will meet at the Tallassee Recreation Center at 8:00 a.m. for registration and breakfast. The cleanup will end at 11:30 a.m.Contact: Linda Mattingly (334) 257-1744, lindamattingly@hotmail.com or Billy Bryan (334) 283-1054, wlbryan@southernco.com

March 5-10 Logan Martin Reservoir (Coosa River)
The community cleanup will held on Saturday, March 10 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at Lakeside Landing, off Highway 231 South, in Pell City, followed by a picnic lunch.Contact: Sam Smith, Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (205) 525-1664

March 26-31 Weiss Lake (Coosa River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday, March 31 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Causeway Landing between Centre and Cedar Bluff on Highway 9.Contact: Shad Ellis, Weiss Lake Improvement Association (256) 927-7172, arealty@tds.net or David Brock, (256) 927-6257, ddbrock@tds.net

March 31 Lake Mitchell (Coosa River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday, March 31 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at Higgins Ferry Park, followed by a picnic lunch.Contact: Doug Martin, Lake Mitchell Homeowners and Boat Owners Association (205) 755-0863, dougmart@mindspring.com

April 2-7 Lay Lake (Coosa River)
The community cleanup will Saturday, April 7 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at Beeswax Public Boat Launch, followed by a celebration lunch from noon to 3:00 pm at the picnic area. There will also be various new boats on display by local marines during the event.Contact: Judy Jones, Lay Lake Homeowners and Boat Owners Association, (205) 669-4865, jonesfl@bellsouth.net

April 7 Lay Lake-E.C. Gaston Steam Plant (Coosa River)
Volunteers will meet at Richey's Resort, located on site at E.C. Gaston Steam Plant, 7:00 a.m. to noon, followed by a picnic lunch.Contact: Byron Corina, E.C. Gaston Steam Plant (205) 669-8301

April 19-21 Lake Demopolis (Black Warrior River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday, April 21 at the City landing in Demopolis from 8:00 a.m. to noon.Contact Bob McCants, Greene County Steam Plant (334) 289-6160 or Amanda Hall (334) 289-6129

April 14 Lake Jordan (Coosa River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday, April 14 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at Bonner's Point Landing, followed by a picnic lunch. Contact: Barbara Dreyer, Lake Jordan Homeowners and Boat owners Association (334) 567-7551

April 16-18 Smith Lake (Black Warrior River-Walker County)
The cleanup will be held during the week from Smith Lake Dam Boat Launch. This cleanup targets Styrofoam blocks and abandoned docks. Contact: Jim Beason, Smith Lake Civic Association (205) 387-2654, Jim Sanders (205) 221-7446, or Charles Boyd (205) 221-2183, cbboyd@bellsouth.net

Note:
(1st time) April 21 Cahaba River
Volunteers should report at the Piper Bridge boat ramp at 8:00 a.m. The cleanup will end at noon. Contact: Paula Fancher (205) 926-4488, grits21@netzero.com

April 26-27 Smith Lake (Black Warrior River-Cullman County)
Volunteers interested in assisting should contact Debbie Berry for further information on the cleanup. Contact: Debbie Berry, Smith Lake Environmental Preservation Committee (205) 823-0015

May 2-5 H. Neely Henry Reservoir-Gadsden Steam Plant (Coosa River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday, May 5 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the City of Gadsden Boat Dock on the corner of Broad Street and George Wallace Drive on Highway 211.Contact: Lisa Dover, Keep Etowah Beautiful (256) 549-0900 or Gene Phifer, Gadsden Steam Plant (256) 543-5181

May 11 Locust Fork
Volunteers will meet at the Park-n-Ride at I-65 North Exit 284 (Hayden/Corner) at 8:00 a.m. on May 11. Teams will disperse to sites along the river. Contact: Donna Hill, Southern Company Services (205) 257-5234 or Susie Wilkerson, Friends of Locust Fork River (205) 492-1745 cell, (205) 647-1689, Locust95@aol.com

May 21-26 Mobile River-Barry Steam Plant
The community cleanup will be Saturday, May 19 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at a site to be determined. A picnic lunch will follow the cleanup. Contact: Richard Kraynak, Barry Steam Plant (251) 829-2001

May 29-June 2 Bankhead Lake (Black Warrior River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday June 2 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at Buddy Vines Camp. A picnic lunch will follow the cleanup. Contact: Mark Meadors, US Army Corps of Engineers (205) 553-9373 or Kellie Johnston, Black Warrior Clean Water Partnership (205) 264-8461

June 19-23 Smith Lake (Black Warrior-Winston County)
The community cleanup will be from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 23 at Clear Creek Campground.Contact: Tom Counts or Allison Cochran, U.S. Forest Service, (205) 489-5111, jacochran@fs.fed.us or Linda Atkinson (205) 387-9999, lratk@bellsouth.net

July 14 Lake Martin (Tallapoosa River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday, July 14 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at sites to be determined.Contact: Arnold Lindsay, Alabama Power, (256) 825-3104 or Tammy Jones (256) 234-5271 ext. 3

August 4 Farley Nuclear Plant (Chattahoochee River)
The community cleanup will be Saturday, August 4, at a site to be determined. Contact: Shelley Murrrell, Farley Nuclear Plant (334) 899-5156, ext.2418, SAMURREL@southernco.com

August 13-18 Holt Lake (Black Warrior River)
The event will be held at Rocky Branch Park in Peterson off Highway 216 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Picnic lunch to follow event. Contact: Mark Meadors, US Army Corps of Engineers (205) 553-9373 or Kellie Johnston, Black Warrior Clean Water Partnership, (205) 264-8461.