Dr. Karen Bell
Keep Liberty Beautiful
We have experienced several rain showers over the past couple of weeks!
I am not complaining, because rain is good for the environment, like providing water for our lawns, plants, and we need that.
The rain can also increase the risk of stormwater pollution.
Stormwater pollution is when the rain carries unwanted trash into areas such as bodies of water.
When stormwater does not soak into the ground, it becomes surface runoff. Impervious surfaces, such as driveways, sidewalks, and streets, prevent the rainwater runoff from quickly flowing into 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 prevent is litter.
To ensure we have a clean, green, and beautiful community, we all must pitch in. Keep Liberty Beautiful has many programs and activities to help spread the word about litter prevention.
One program is our upcoming Recycle It!
Fairs, which are scheduled for Saturday, August 12, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at two convenient locations: Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 East Oglethorpe in Midway, and Walthourville City Hall, 222 Busbee Drive in Walthourville.
We will also host a Shred It! Day at the Walthourville City Hall site on August 12. The Shred event will be available from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
(you must be in line by 12:45 p.m.). To learn more about recycling, litter prevention, mobile gardening, and making your own rain barrel, attend the August Chamber Progress through People Luncheon on Thursday, August 17, at 12 noon at the Performing Art Center on East Oglethorpe Highway. KLB will give away trees, plants, and free opportunities to attend the rain barrel workshop. Registration for this luncheon is arranged through the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce by August 14, 2023, at operations@libertycounty.org or (912) 368-4445.
You can also conduct a cleanup on your own or with a group. It is easy to do; pick an area to clean up. KLB will provide all the equipment you need.
Cleanups help keep trash off our streets, parks, and neighborhoods. We must remember that water pollution harms humans, animals, and water life.
The effects can be devastating, depending on how much and kind of pollutants enter our waterways.
It takes one step, like cleanups and recycling events, to help our environment.
Another program is the Annual Beach Sweep 2023, on September 9, and Keep Liberty Beautiful needs boat captains to volunteer their time and boats to transport volunteers to St. Catherine’s Island. We will leave from Halfmoon Marina or Sunbury Boat Ramp. We check in at 9 a.m. and usually return by 1 p.m.
We also offer all the cleanup supplies, food, drinks, and T-shirts.
If you are a boat captain and want to participate or if you wish to volunteer, contact KLB at (912) 880-4888. You can also sign up on the Form Link: https://bit.ly/ beachsweep23 Remember to donate your shoes and clothes until August 12. We hope you plan to join us on August 18-19 to conduct the Great Georgia Pollinator Census from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the KLB office. Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/pollencensus to ensure we have enough supplies and food.
You can stop stormwater pollution by taking one step at a time!