POWERGRAMS

CONSERVATION 13 Renew Our Rivers (ROR) was rolling along in 2020 as late winter volunteer efforts on Bankhead Lake, Lake Eufaula and Valley Creek went off without a hitch. However, the beginning of the third decade of statewide cleanups came to an abrupt halt mid-March as the coronavirus came ashore, separating mask-wearing citizens by 6 feet, sending many people indoors and closing businesses nationwide. What had been expected to be another banner year of increasing volunteer numbers and trash removal along Alabama waterways seemed over. Yet, the need for cleanups didn't go away and, as the year wore on, people living around the lakes figured out ways to either individually or in groups continue the efforts Alabama Power began statewide in 2000. Most importantly, during a down year, the campaign officially surpassed 16 million pounds of trash collected across the South. While most cleanups scheduled for 2020 were forced to cancel, perhaps the most successful ROR ventures amid the pandemic were in November at Village Creek and around Lake Martin. After learning that Alabama Power employees, because of health and safety concerns, would not be participating for the first time in 20 years, John Thompson met with Lake Martin Resource Association (LMRA) board members to consider their options. The group has managed the local cleanup for about 15 years, so they decided to try a smaller event supported by supplies and T-shirts from Alabama Power. "I was very close to canceling the annual event," Thompson said. "But the Lake Martin community responded and was ready for the challenge. Instead of pulling in, we decided to expand our efforts by adding new locations around the lake for volunteers to meet, pick up supplies and proceed to pick up trash wherever they chose to work – roadside or shoreline." The Lake Martin community rallied behind the revived cleanup, beginning with Stephens School teachers and students creating supportive artwork, then picking up trash in Wind Creek State Park. The Auburn University Fishing Club, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Boys and Girls and Tallapoosa County Junior Leadership joined in with the Alex City municipal litter crew. Efforts soon covered more of the lake than ever before, as the Real Island, Windermere and Windover neighborhoods took part. Thompson said support also came from the APCO Employees Credit Union, Russell Lands, Lake Martin Dock Co. and TowBoat Lake Martin. Tallapoosa County Tourism and the Lake Martin Tourism Association joined the Renew Our Rivers effort to have "the cleanest lake in the South." Thompson said cooperation during the pandemic was "unlike any I have ever witnessed" as nearly 200 volunteers increased the all-time Lake Martin cleanup total of 160 tons by some 30,000 pounds. He said the items removed included more than 40 car and truck tires. "In all my years of organizing Lake Martin Renew Our Rivers cleanups, I have never been as overwhelmed and impressed with the total results as I have been in this year of so much uncertainty," Thompson said. "I am extremely encouraged by what we experienced. We could have canceled, and everyone would have understood, but we chose to continue our efforts in making the Lake Martin community the absolute best that it can be." The Village Creek annual cleanup was originally set for the same week in March that the coronavirus forced Gov. Kay Ivey to close schools and Alabama Power employees began working at home. The ROR committee had worked for five months in preparation, made T-shirts with a new logo and promoted the cleanup on TV but would postpone the big event in favor of undertaking three smaller cleanups on Oct. 17, Oct. 23 and Nov. 17. Valley Creek coordinator Hana Berres applauded the "great work" of the 105 people who volunteered for the rescheduled cleanups, picking up and properly disposing 6.33 tons (nearly 13,000 pounds) of trash. "I've heard from several folks that said they have never seen the area around the Bayview Bridge sparkle as it did post-cleanup," wrote Berres, who is Education Training coordinator for the Jefferson County Department of Development Services. "Now, to keep the litter bugs from destroying this hard work!" The cleanup along Mulga Loop Road in Birmingham – held in the fall of 2020 for the first time – is annually focused on removing litter from the roadways to prevent it from being washed by rain or carried by wind into the adjacent Village Creek and Bayview Lake of the Minor Heights community. Alabama Power provided hand sanitizer, disposable masks, plastic gloves, trash bags, bottled water and T-shirts to volunteers. Renew Our Rivers statewide coordinator Mike Clelland said the seven official cleanups of 2020 included 824 volunteers who picked up 38.8 tons (77,600 pounds) of trash. That was down significantly from 2019, when 4,514 volunteers removed 158 tons (316,000 pounds) of garbage during 32 cleanups statewide. Clelland is looking forward to the post-pandemic when people across the state can get back out in force to beautify Alabama waterways and the roads around them. "It was very good to see enthusiasm for Renew Our Rivers still here after all these years," Clelland said. "Groups taking it upon themselves to hold safe cleanups, in spite of the pandemic, is extremely encouraging going forward in 2021." By Chuck Chandler ROR looks to rebound in '21 Allen Turner, Clelland, Mark Newburn, Danny Dobbs and Keith Phillips cleaned Greene County shorelines. CLEANUPS HAVE REMOVED 16 MILLION TONS OF TRASH FROM SHORES Volunteers pick up trash along Mulga Loop Road in Birmingham.

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