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2010 Big Sweep Event Cleans Up Our Lake
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2010 Big Sweep Event Cleans Up Our Lake

At Oct. 2nd, 2010 N.C. Big Sweep Event volunteers helped take out the trash on Mountain Island Lake

 

Lake trash

                  Trash collected from Mountain Island Lake 

On a perfect fall day, under a Carolina blue sky,  200 local volunteers showed up at two locations on Mountain Island Lake to help take out the trash. Oct. 2nd was the 2010 North Carolina Big Sweep Event. Volunteers throughout the state put on their work clothes and pitched in to collect litter in our parks, public land and waterways. On the shores and in the water of Mountain Island Lake that trash amounted to almost 5 tons of tires, beverage cans and bottles, barbeque grills, building materials and one recliner. Reportedly, an abandoned mobile home was found by the volunteers at the Latta Plantation site. Volunteers were unable to clear that particular debris from the lakeshore.

 Volunteers unload trash

                  Volunteers at Riverbend Access unload bags of trash

The people and groups who showed up at the Riverbend Boat Access and the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve for the cleanup were diverse and ranged from Girl Scouts, school groups and the Mountain Island Lake Marine Commission to members of the local Hardcore Kayak Fishing Team. Joining the more than 40 people who volunteered at the Riverbend Boat Access were several Mountain Island Lake Covekeepers. That site was organized by the staff at the nearby Riverbend Steam Station. Roger Caldwell from Duke Energy was the site coordinator where the company provided snacks, garbage bags, PFD's, logistical support and a large roll-off dumpster to haul the trash away when the event was over. Several Duke employees were among the volunteers.

 Boatload of trash

                  Among the trash removed was a newspaper vending machine

The Latta Plantation site was organized by the Mecklenburg County Stormwater Services Department. On Saturday morning over 130 people helped collect 120 bags of trash from around the lake shoreline in the Latta Park and Gar Creek area.

 

One positive note observed by the Covekeepers who helped clean up the lake's Big Island on Saturday was that this year the island had far less litter than last year. 

 Volunteers on Lake

                  A local Brownie Troop after working at the Big Island

While the Big Sweep event is an annual opportunity to help clean up Mountain Island Lake the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation encourages everyone to pitch-in year round to help keep our lakes and river clean. Take your trash with you when you leave the lake and if you see litter while on the lake please pick it up.

On Saturday the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation and the Lake Wylie Covekeepers sponsored their annual Riversweep event with great success. Click here to read more about it.

The Mountain Island Covekeepers and the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation wish to thank Duke Energy, Mecklenburg County and everyone who helped with the N.C. Big Sweep. The next Big Sweep event is tentatively scheduled for October 1, 2011. 

 

 Read about the 2009 Big Sweep Event by clicking here.

 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT THE CATAWBA RIVER AND WATEREE RIVER, CLICK HERE. 
 
 Click here to go to the Mountain Island Lake Covekeepers Page
 

 Go to the Catawba Riverkeeper Home Page by clicking here

 

 

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Alliances

The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare North Carolina, River Network, the North Carolina Conservation Network, and the Waterkeeper Alliance.  EarthShare North Carolina makes it possible for employees to support the environment through workplace giving programs.  River Network’s mission is to empower and unite people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain the health of our country.  The NC Conservation Network supports, trains and coordinates diverse groups and directly advocates to achieve equitable and sustainable solutions for our environment.  The Waterkeeper Alliance is a worldwide network of advocates for protection of our water resources.  For more information about these organizations or to inquire about enrolling your employer in EarthShare NC, please contact CRF@catawbariverkeeper.org.

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Fish Advisories

fish consumption chart crop

Fish advisories have been issued throughout the Catawba-Wateree River basin for various types of fish.  Many of these fish advisories are the result of testing initiated by Catawba Riverkeeper and confirmed by state and local officials.  For a chart identifying fish types with the applicable adisories for the Charlotte area, click here.   For more information about the fish advisories, click here.

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Report Pollution in the Catawba River

Help protect your River! 

Tell your Riverkeeper if you see:

  • Sewage Overflows
  • Failure to control sediment from construction sites
  • Illegal clearing of buffer areas
  • Fish kills 
  • Invasive aquatic species
  • Exceeding Pollution Limits
  • Discharges exceeding allowable limits
  • Unpermitted discharges
  • Other issues that concern you

Click here to fill out a pollution report or to report a spill to Catawba Riverkeeper by phone, call 1-888-679-9494 or 704-679-9494.  In addition, to informing your Riverkeeper, you should also report spills or contamination to federal, state and local environmental officials.

To report South Carolina spills or fish kills call 1-888-481-0125.

To report North Carolins spills or fish kills, call 1-800-662-7956.

To report spills and releases to federal authorities (EPA and Coast Guard), call 1-800-424-8802.

 

 

How to contact your NC Legislator

Sometimes you just can't get the action that is needed to protect our water without contacting your legislator.  To find out who represents you in the North Carolina legislature and how to contact them, click here.

 
421 Minuet Ln Ste 205 . Charlotte, NC 28217-2784 . Phone: 704.679.9494 . Fax: 704.679.9559