"Sweep the Hooch" kicks off National Park Week

The Chattahoochee River meanders right through Smyrna-Vinings territory, yet most of us take it for granted. Gorgeously scenic riverside areas are all around us, enjoyed by walkers, hikers, birdwatchers, cyclist, and just plain nature lovers who need a spot to sit and observe.

Yet the river needs maintenance to help support the ecosystems, and sustain the quality and natural beauty it provides. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR), National Park Service and Trout Unlimited (TU) have united to organize a multi-site cleanup within the 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA).

Tackling a massive cleanup of 11 park units and paddling seven segments demands a lot of manpower and they are asking for your help. On Saturday, April 16, Sweep the Hooch will bring together environmentally minded volunteers to walk, wade and paddle in an organized cleanup of the Chattahoochee River.

“This is the first time we’ve undertaken a cleanup of this magnitude all on one day, but we envision this as an annual event that will become a favorite of our volunteers,” said David Lee Simmons, Communications Director of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. He encourages people to come enjoy the camaraderie that this volunteer event will foster.

On the day of the event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers will patrol the numerous sites, cleaning and beautifying our river areas. River cleanups necessarily improve the quality of our water, but they also foster a sense of “river community.”

Walkers will pick up trash and perform trail maintenance, waders must bring and be outfitted with proper wading equipment and will patrol shallow waters, picking up trash. Paddlers must provide their own kayaks or canoes and will travel five to seven mile segments, picking up debris in the water.

Sweep the Hooch helps to kick off National Park Week, which runs from April 16 - 24. All 392 national parks across the country (including the CRNRA) will have free admission during National Park Week.

Participating in the Sweep the Hooch event requires signing up for particular sites and each volunteer must sign a UCR Liability Waiver during the registration process. Each site has a capacity and will close once that capacity has been reached. All volunteers will receive a Sweep the Hooch t-shirt for participating, and see here for more information.

Corporations, nonprofits, church groups, gardening groups, etc., are all welcomed, as well as individuals. Team leaders and registration coordinators are needed, and sponsorships of the Sweep the Hooch program are also available. Children may participate in the cleanup, but must be supervised at all times.