05 Sep 2017 Lake and river cleanup Sept. 9
The Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Tourism Association and the Army Corps of Engineers are seeking volunteers and sponsors to pitch in from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, during the 48th Annual Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Cleanup.
Cleanup day check-in is 7:30 to 8 a.m. at any of the participating Greers Ferry Lake area marinas: Eden Isle Marina, Fairfield Bay Marina, Heber Springs Marina, Smith’s Hill Creek Marina, Lacey’s Narrows Marina, Fergusons Choctaw Marina, Peter’s Sugar Loaf Marina, Dam Site Camping Gatehouse and Lindsey’s Resort. Volunteers are asked to register at VisitGreersFerryLake.org/cleanup or call the Corps of Engineers at 501.362.2416.
A special dedication ceremony and celebratory lunch will be held in memory of the late Carl Garner, the cleanup founder at Narrows Park in Greers Ferry. There will be a barbecue lunch (for adults) with all the fixings and old fashion lemonade from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. to the first 400 volunteers. (Hot dogs will be available for kids.) Entertainment during lunch will include Resonating Grace Bluegrass Gospel Band, an up and coming Arkansas favorite. Also as a tradition, the Harding Choir will perform during the opening ceremony.
Sponsors are asking volunteers with boats to bring them to transport their own families and friends or to help with transportation for volunteers who do not have boats. Boat owners will not have to use their boats to transport the recovered trash around the lakeshore. The Corps has made arrangements for contractors to pick up trash left by the volunteers along the shoreline. To facilitate the contractor pick-up, volunteers should leave the bagged trash in conspicuous locations around the shoreline for later pick-up. Trash bags for shoreline litter will be furnished to all participants at the check-in stations.
If you prefer to clean up around JFK Park, Collins Creek or the fish hatchery, call the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery at 501.362.3615. If you prefer cleaning up the Little Red River, Chapter 722 of Trout Unlimited and the Red River Foundation will be checking in volunteers at 8 a.m. at designated places along the River.
Cleanup sponsors encourage those who want to volunteer to sign up in advance at VisitGreersFerryLake.org/cleanup. For lake area questions call the Corps of Engineers at 501.362.2416.
For general information, call the association toll-free at 844.939.7567, press 0.
Cleanup sponsors include: Greers Ferry Lake & Little Red River Association, Army Corps of Engineers, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Greers Ferry Lake National Fish Hatchery, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, Save Greers Ferry Lake, Brawley Real Estate, Trout Unlimited Chapter 722, Red River Foundation, National Guard, KFFB 106.1 Radio, QWK 101 and the Greers Ferry and Heber Springs High School Family & Consumer Sciences Departments. Special thanks to area marinas and the chambers of commerce in Augusta, Bald Knob, Beebe, Clinton, Fairfield Bay, Greers Ferry, Heber Springs, McCrory and Searcy.
