The Seventh Annual Sweep the Hooch cleanup day will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 9 am to 1 pm.
Sweep the Hooch is an annual day of service to the Chattahoochee River mobilizing volunteers on foot, in waders, or paddlers to remove trash at sites throughout the watershed. Sweep the Hooch brings people together to give back to the mighty river that gives us so much.
Beginning in 2011, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper worked with Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to host the inaugural Sweep the Hooch cleanup. Since then, the event has grown to include numerous local partners, hundreds of volunteers and cleanup sites along more than 70 miles of the river. Through Sweep the Hooch since 2011, they have removed 41 TONS of trash with the assistance of almost 3000 volunteers from the Chattahoochee and its tributaries.
They are gearing up for another BIG cleanup this year, on April 8! Although it’s obvious to most that river cleanups improve the quality of our water, we’ve discovered that they do much more than that. Cleanups are also a great way to develop a sense of “river community.” This is your chance to volunteer and be part of this community.
Cleanup locations will take place over 70 river and tributary miles – from Don Carter State Park through the Chattahoochee Recreation Area, and all the way down to Chattahoochee Bend State Park. Cleanup sites in between include Peachtree Creek, Tanyard Creek, Proctor Creek and more being added each day.
2017 VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS:
Volunteers are labeled Walkers, Waders, and Paddlers. Each site has a capacity and will close once we reach that capacity – so register early!
WALKERS are land-based volunteers who will pick up trash and perform trail maintenance. At some sites, walkers will specifically target invasive non-native vegetation (such as privet).
WADERS are volunteers equipped with waders or wading boots. Waders collect trash from the shallow water areas, and from areas on the river bank that are accessed most easily from the river and streamside trails. Volunteers must provide their own waders.
PADDLERS utilize kayaks/canoes/SUPs and travel between 3-5 miles per segment. These crafts are useful in collecting debris from portions of the river that cannot be accessed from the land side. Volunteers must provide their own kayaks and/or canoes. Boats are not available on-site. Need to rent? Click here to view a list of local outfitters.
Each site for the Seventh Annual Sweep the Hooch has a capacity and will close once they reach that capacity, so register early! Registration may not work properly from cell phone, may indicate registration is full. *Registration closes April 5 at noon.
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