Dr. Karen Bell
Keep Liberty Beautiful
Stormwater pollution, a leading cause of water quality issues nationwide, is a significant concern for our community. This isn’t just a problem for the environment, it’s a threat to our way of life. When it rains, water flows over our streets, driveways, parking lots, and lawns, picking up trash, chemicals, oil, pet waste, pesticides, and other pollutants along the way. This contaminated runoff, known as stormwater, doesn’t undergo treatment like the water from our sinks and toilets. Instead, it directly enters our local rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, posing a serious threat to our environment and our community.
When we take care of our waterways, we can stop stormwater pollution from: Harming fish and wildlife habitats Contaminating drinking water sources Closing beaches and fishing areas Creating health risks for people and pets We can all do our part by doing a few environmentally friendly things to take care of our waterways. You can pick up after pets. Take a bag on your walks to properly dispose of pet waste. Use fertilizers sparingly because excess fertilizers wash into waterways and harm aquatic life. Dispose of chemicals properly, and never pour motor oil, paint, or chemicals down storm drains. You can plant a rain garden and use a rain barrel to reduce runoff by capturing and filtering rainwater.
It is essential to keep storm drains clear of trash, leaves, and debris to prevent clogs and pollution. Every action counts. By working together, we can protect our waterways and ensure clean, safe water for future generations. In Liberty County, as in many communities, stormwater pollution poses a significant threat to our local rivers, streams, and the overall environment. Understanding and addressing this issue is crucial for maintaining the health and beauty of our county.
Keep Liberty County has programs we share with schools, churches, and community events to discuss stormwater pollution and how to manage and improve stormwater systems. But this isn’t just our responsibility. Preventing stormwater pollution is a collective responsibility. By adopting mindful practices in our daily lives, we can all play a part in protecting Liberty County’s waterways, ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for all to enjoy.
The Litter Law Enforcement Workshop is on March 27 at the Liberty County Community Complex in Midway.
We encourage all community leaders and members to attend and learn about the laws and regulations that help us combat stormwater pollution. We will start at 9 a.m., and you can register or get more information by visiting our website, www.keeplibertybeautiful. org, or the KLB Facebook page.
The great American Cleanup has begun, and each city in Liberty County will hold a cleanup in their area. The City of Riceboro will hold its cleanup on March 29. Liberty County and the City of Hinesville will hold their cleanup on April 5. The cities of Flemington, Midway, and Walthourville will hold their cleanup on April 26. This is an excellent opportunity for us to unite as a community and clean up our neighborhoods, preventing litter from entering our stormwater systems.
To sign up and get more information on times and locations, please visit our website, www.keeplibertybeautiful. org, or the Keep Liberty Beautiful Facebook page.
KLB provides all the cleanup supplies, including garbage bags, safety vests, work gloves, litter reachers, and water. We also offer official Keep Liberty Beautiful T-shirts for all registered volunteers.
Mark your calendars! The Liberty County Earth Day Celebration is set for a new day and time: Saturday, April 12, at Bryant Commons, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a day for our community to come together and make a difference. For more information about Keep Liberty Beautiful and our programs, feel free to call us at (912) 880-4888 or email us at klcb@libertycountyga. gov. Let’s continue to find ways to make our community Clean, Green, and Beautiful!
