GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — A big event happening this weekend on Lake Guntersville, this year's 'HydroFest,' reeling in many boat racers and visitors from all over. But it also brings up an important message, to 'keep the lake clean.'
The City of Guntersville, partnered up with the nonprofit Marshall County PALS, Keep America Beautiful, River Church, TVA, along with community residents.
All of them volunteering Tuesday morning with the same goal, to make Lake Guntersville clean and beautiful.
Melissa Howard, recycling coordinator for the City of Guntersville, says they all " cleaned up everything from bottle caps to diapers to clothing.You name it, we find it."
This cleanup coming before this weekend's big HydroFest, "it's an annual thing we do here in Guntersville, and we have lots of visitors that come out for the event. So we're here getting our shoreline cleaned up, ready for company this weekend," Howard said.
But keeping the shoreline clean every day is the objective. The trail along the shoreline has several trash and recycling receptacles.
"So we would just love for people to make use of those. You know, our wildlife here in the lake....they get tangled up in plastics and... bottle tops," Howard said.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, trash making its way into waterways, also known as "aquatic trash," can create many different problems.
It could affect water quality, endanger plants and animals, and pollute the outdoor spaces we depend on for tourism and recreation.
In just three hours at Lake Guntersville, the team sailed through by boat and by foot, collecting 31 bags filled with trash.
"We have two boat launches that we've covered today in the area, and then we've went all the way down to the water treatment plant," Howard said.
And although these cleanup events happen periodically throughout the year you can make a difference every day.
"We have residents that say, you know, I'm out here every day keeping our our walking trails and shorelines clean. So we really do appreciate it. You know, they take a lot of pride and we have this beautiful lake here in our city and we just want to keep it looking good for everyone to enjoy."