Volunteers gather at Holly Creek after a hard few hours of picking up litter
The 30th annual Conasauga River Watershed Cleanup saw a turnout of 224 volunteers from Dalton and the surrounding regions.
During the October cleanup, volunteers went to various sites across three counties to help clean up the watershed which transports water from the land into tributary streams and the Conasauga River.
Cody Bain, board member of the Native Fish Coalition, discussed why he takes part in the cleanup, “I have been participating in the cleanup because I feel like this is my river.
I have been floating and fishing and swimming in this river for over 25 years, and have been working at Dalton Utilities for 14 years sampling and testing the water on the river. I love this unique and incredibly diverse watershed.”
Together, volunteers cleaned up 11,465 pounds of trash and 35 tires.
"By removing litter from the watershed, it can be cleared away before it is too broken down by weathering to collect or before it is washed down the river and into the ocean by the flow of water," officials said. "Held in partnership with the United Way of Northwest Georgia's Make a Difference Day, this year's cleanup event proved to be a memorable one, filled with surprising discoveries, tireless efforts, and a shared commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the Southeastern United States.
"Some surprising finds from this year included a door frame and a carpet roll at Mill Creek tributary near Underwood Apartments, a stroller at Mill Creek Veteran’s Drive Bridge and a trampoline in the Chattahoochee National Forest."
Gretchen Lugthart discussed finding a bike at their cleanup site, “One of the students found just the top of the tire on this bike and began digging. Several of us took turns digging in the creek sediment, and we soon realized that it was not moving because it was attached to a whole bike. We did not have a shovel, so we used sticks and pieces of metal to dig it out. I did not want to give up on such a large piece of trash that animals or even people could get entangled in or cut on. Finally, Chris Stearns and a young man wrestled it out. This just represents the camaraderie and teamwork that we experience when working on getting garbage out of our waterways.”
Officials said, "Taking care of the Conasauga River, which winds through Polk County in Tennessee and along the border of Whitfield and Murray counties, and its tributaries helps create a more beautiful community and supports a healthy environment for the wildlife dependent on the river."
Sites included in this year’s event were the Conasauga River at Lower Kings/Norton bridge and Mill Creek at Veteran’s Drive bridge. Other cleanup sites included Holly Creek in Murray County at the snorkel hole and the Murray County Saddle Club, the snorkel hole in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, and Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill. City of Dalton sites included Crown Creek, Lakeshore Park, Al Rollins Park, and a Mill Creek tributary near Underwood Apartments. U.S. Forest Service employees from the Conasauga Ranger District cleaned up sites on Sumac and Rock Creeks on the Chattahoochee National Forest and Mohawk Industries employees cleaned up at the Roger Crossen Community Center, as well as a site near their facilities in Calhoun.
Dr. Alex Orfinger, an assistant professor of biology at Dalton State College, talked about his experience at this year’s cleanup, “I participate in the cleanup to help restore the incredibly biodiverse freshwater habitats we're lucky to have in our backyard. Plus, the swag and fact that I found a dollar during the most recent cleanup is a great bonus! I am happy to be a part of it.”
Natalie Ferry, a Dalton State student, talked about her motivation for joining the effort, “I’m involved because the cleanup keeps me grounded in my environmental concerns. Before working with the Conasauga, it was really easy to fall into nonproductive pessimism when it came to climate change. By participating with the cleanup and other related events, I am able to channel a lot of my energy into helping my community.”
The event sponsors provided the funds needed to purchase cleanup supplies, commemorative travel mugs, stickers of the Trispot Darter, a threatened species of fish located in Mill Creek, and cozies made of recycled material. They also helped the group purchase ten copies of Casper Cox’s Snorkeling Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia to raffle out to volunteers. Event sponsors and organizers include: Shaw Industries, Allchem, Engineered Floors, Dalton Utilities, North Georgia EMC, the Dalton Rotary Club, The Nature Conservancy, Rivers Alive, United Way of Northwest Georgia, Prater’s Mill Foundation, Dalton State College, Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority, Mohawk Industries, Whitfield County Public Works, Limestone Valley RC&D, US Forest Service, Native Fish Coalition, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful, Murray County and Whitfield County Extension, and Keep Chatsworth-Murray Beautiful. The amount of time donated by volunteers during this year’s event is valued at $25,854.
The Conasauga River Watershed Cleanup has long been a participant of the State of Georgia’s Rivers Alive, one of the South’s largest volunteer efforts to beautify water resources. So far in 2024, 3,165 volunteers have participated in 57 clean-up events throughout the state and have removed 278,138 pounds of garbage from 473 miles of Georgia waterways. For more information about efforts in other areas or the statewide campaign, visit www.RiversAlive.org.