Satilla Riverkeeper announces Sept. 19 as river clean up day

Each year, the Satilla Riverkeeper gathers volunteers at sites up and down the Satilla River to do a clean sweep. Last year, 130 volunteers cleaned up eleven sites in the Satilla River watershed.

This year things are a little different. “We are encouraging volunteers to gather on their own in small groups, and spend some time picking up trash anywhere in the Satilla River watershed,” Satilla Riverkeeper, Laura Early said. Clean up day is slated for Sept. 19, 2020.

Picking up trash at a favorite river spot, park, or even the streets in one’s own neighborhood makes a difference. When it rains, litter gets carried downhill, into ditches and storm drains that eventually empty into a stream where our man-made debris can harm fish and wildlife.

“This has been such an impactful day over the years, and we can still have a huge impact on the river, even when we are spread a little farther apart,” said Laura Early.

Conducting a clean-up is simple: All you really need is a trash bag and a pair of gloves. For additional tips on how to do a safe and effective clean-up, visit www.satillariverkeeper.org/cleanup

Satilla Riverkeeper is requesting that volunteers also take a tally of the trash they pick up. This data helps Satilla Riverkeeper and local residents advocate for solutions to the chronic trash issue along the Satilla River. Each volunteer that turns in a datasheet to the Satilla Riverkeeper will get a thank you prize.