Over the weekend, we had a couple of heavy rain showers and thunderstorms! Now, the rain is good for the environment, like providing water for our lawns and plants, and we need that. The rain can also be trouble by causing stormwater pollution. Understanding stormwater pollution is quite simple. When it rains, it pours, and when rain flows, the stormwater process is set in motion. When stormwater does not soak into the ground, it becomes surface runoff. Impervious surfaces, like driveways, sidewalks, and streets, prevent the rainwater runoff from quickly soaking in the ground.
That is why stormwater pollution problems are significant in more populated areas. This runoff becomes polluted as it runs along roads, parking lots, roofs, commercial spaces, lawns, and farms. As the water flows along, it picks up anything in its path, like pollutants such as automotive fluids, fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria, sediments, pet waste, and litter. If we are not careful, the contaminants can make their way to our waterway. One pollutant we all can help with and prevent is litter.
To ensure we have a clean, green, and beautiful community to live in, we all have to pitch in. Keep Liberty Beautiful has many programs and activities to help spread the word about litter prevention. This weekend is Liberty County’s first plogging event, called Liberty County Trash & Dash! Plogging, plainly put, is jogging and walking while picking up litter. It is very simple to do, just clean up while you are exercising. The word plogging was first coined by a Swedish native, named, Erik Ahlström, and he created the website www.plogga.se/en/. To go plogging, all you need is a pair of gloves and a recyclable bag. Keep Liberty Beautiful is providing all the equipment you need for our plogging event this Saturday.
Plogging helps keep trash off our streets, parks, and neighborhoods, and it is exercise, which is good for our bodies. KLB provides information on litter prevention to promote learning, and this event will help to create proud future environmental heroes. We have to remember that water pollution is very harmful to humans, animals and water life. The effects can be devastating, depending on the amount and kind of pollutants that enter our waterways. It takes one step, like our plogging event, to help our environment.
So, who wants to be an Environmental Hero?! We have three locations this Saturday, August 15, 2020, from 8:00am to 12:00pm. We will meet you at James A Brown Park Soccer Field Pavilion, the new Midway City Hall parking lot, and in Riceboro, Briar Bay Community Park Pavilion. The first 30 volunteers that register will receive a limited edition “Trash Dash” reusable bag. We will also be giving out towels, hats, and t-shirts as supplies last.
We will have all the necessary cleanup tools and supplies ready for you. Also, social distancing will be adhered to. To register and to make a difference, check out our website: www.keeplibertybeautiful.org. You can also sign up or find out about KLB’s other programs by calling (912) 880- 4888 or emailing us at klcb@libertycountyga.com. We hope to see a lot of Environmental Heroes!
You can sign up on our website www.keeplibertybeautiful.org, or contact us at (912) 880- 4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.