SHORELINES

6 a p c s hor e l i n e s.c om | 2017 Vol :1 the eyes that pass by and the feet that land on the shoreline. The Treasured Mile concept stems from a happy series of events. First, Alabama Power, mandated to implement an Adopt an Island program for its federal dam contract, implemented far greater measures than the government required. And under the watch of President John Thompson, the Lake Martin Resource Association was already collecting litter on both lake and roadsides. Meanwhile, Russell Lands, under CEO Tom Lamberth, had its own programs in place. The three entities now pool their energies in the Treasured Mile program. And it's working. Ken and Tonya Holland can vouch for that. They jumped in as Treasured Mile volunteers when the program began last fall. "It's an easy thing to volunteer for because you go at your own pace – but we like the work so we can see the progress," says Ken Holland, who drives weekly with Tonya from Brooks, Georgia, to their lot in River Oaks. The Hollands haven't even broken ground on a house – a dock and an old-fashioned aluminum john boat suffice for now – but the couple, along with Tonya's sister Tammie McVicker, love the art of clean-up. "The lake stacks the trash that washes into coves so all you do is bag it," Ken Holland says. "And we all know how to put trash in bags." The Hollands and McVicker (whose own River Oaks house is complete) sometimes get up early on a Saturday in Georgia, drive two hours, and spend a productive day by Dennis Creek, filling many bags with odd finds. "We've found light bulbs – unbroken ones – toilet seats, full containers of beer, lighters and chewing tobacco cans," Tonya Holland says. "My sister and I love collecting fishing lures so we make a game of seeing who finds the most." John and Deborah Owens, lake residents for 19 years, stroll the shoreline every morning, first for a quiet devotional, then to pick up litter. "The need is obvious," John Owens says. "We've found things that aren't even made anymore – an old 1930s stove, fish traps, box springs plus snuff cans and bottles." Deborah Owens reports that on a recent weekend, the couple delivered 16 60-gallon bags of trash to the nearby River North Marina for disposal. Among the haul: old tires (lots of them), two fishing rods, an automatic dog feeder and odd bits of Styrofoam. The Owens say that major needs follow any big holiday and most summer weekends. "You can tell when somebody had a big party on an island and just didn't bother to clean up," "WE RECOGNIZE THAT LIT TER WILL NE VER GO AWAY BUT THAT THE YE AR- ROUND EFFORTS WILL GRE ATLY HELP OUR BE AUTIFUL RESOURCE." –TOM L A M BER T H, CE O O F RUSSEL L L A ND S. Above: Photo by Bernard TroncaLe – Installed this February, Treasured Mile signs now dot the lake, indicating who has adopted each island or shoreline.

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