Help wanted: Lee County needs volunteers to clean up streams

LEESBURG — Volunteers who have been cleaning up Lee County waterways over the past 12 years have found everything in the water from a car engine to old Christmas ornaments to a Dr. Pepper drink machine – and on one occasion even the proverbial kitchen sink.

The county’s officers who protect the creeks think things are getting better, but that’s no reason to get complacent, said Jim Wright, head of Lee County Code Enforcement.

This year’s annual Rivers Alive cleanup of sections of the Kinchafoonee and Muckalee creeks and the Flint River is set for July 13 and for organizers, the more volunteers the better.

“(With) the public education, people are putting more pride in the waterways and have begun picking up after themselves,” Wright said. “Now we’re seeing a decrease in the trash and debris we’re picking up.”

This is true, even with an exponential increase in traffic on the waterways in recent years. Places like Sutton’s Landing and Pirate’s Cove are drawing people from not just Lee County, Wright said.

“Sutton’s Landing just used to be a little fishing hole,” he said.

Among the sights on a trip down one of the area creeks are a waterfall, limestone cliffs, blue holes and a dead-end cave that paddlers can explore.

Over the years, teams of volunteers have removed some 66,000 pounds of debris, large and small, from the water.

This year, the wild card in the deck is the aftermath of Hurricane Michael’s October 2018 pounding of the region, said David Dixon, a local Flint Riverkeeper board member.

If nothing else the large number of trees, some of them huge, that fell in and across the creeks will have an impact for years to come as many are in remote locations from which removal would be all but impossible, Wright said.

Volunteers won’t be sent into sections of the creek where downed trees are excessive.

Since its inception, the annual cleanup has grown, from about 20 the first year, Wright said. Some years there have been about 200 involved. Lee County High School Junior ROTC students have participated since the inception, and Chehaw Junior Zookeepers also have a long history of involvement.

“This year we’re going to try to remove some of the storm debris,” Wright said.

Those who take up the call get not only a trip on the water but a meal including barbecue cooked by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s competitive team at Chehaw and a performance by the Americus musical group Lonesome Road Bluegrass.

The Flint RiverQuarium provides some of the canoes used, but volunteers who have kayaks and canoes are encouraged to bring their own.

Those looking to volunteer can contact the Lee County Chamber of Commerce at (229) 659-2422.

A lot of the volunteers are in their teens, and Wright said safety is a priority. Deputies, paramedics and other first responders travel with the groups in case there is an emergency.

“Anybody under the age of 16 we request a parent or guardian come along with them,” Wright said. “I’d also like to recommend to people this is a family friendly event.”

Translation: No beer.

Finally, Wright reminds the public that they can help protect the creeks year around by reporting illegal dumping or discharges to his office at (229) 759-6000.

Rather than tossing something in the water, Wright suggests calling for assistance.

“If somebody has materials they don’t want and don’t have the means to remove it, they can contact Code Enforcement,” he said. “It may cost you something.”

On one occasion, someone turned over a large thermometer filled with mercury to the code office. Wright kept it around until he learned the high school needed mercury for a science class and was able to pass it along.

“There’s no reason for illegal dumping,” he said. “If you have something, call us.”

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