Many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, lakes held their annual trash cleanups in support of the National Public Lands program in September.
Clif Kilpatrick, Louisville District lakes manager, said, “It’s a good way to establish partnerships and connect with school groups and environmental groups.”
At Barren River Lake, Glasgow, Kentucky, the 30th Annual Trashmasters Lakeshore Cleanup was held Sept.16 in conjunction with Friends of Barren River Lake and the Barren River Lake State Resort Park. The event was coordinated by Ranger Holly Myers, with all project personnel onsite to assist with the event. There was a total of 400 volunteers that participated in keeping Barren River Lake beautiful. There were also 36 pontoons to shuttle volunteers from the ramps to the shoreline to collect trash. In all, 584 bags of trash and 41 tires were collected.
Green River Lake, Campbellsville, Kentucky, hosted its 31st Annual Lakeshore Cleanup Sept. 16. Approximately 234 volunteers consisting of various school groups, Scout groups, athletes from Campbellsville University and Lindsey Wilson College, and other community members participated in cleaning up the lake. Their efforts resulted in 159 bags of trash, 26 tires and various other large items.
Monroe Lake, Bloomington, Indiana, had its annual cleanup Sept. 10, with partners Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service. Seventy volunteers collected trash and recyclables. Monroe Lake Operations Manager Dave Cable, Park Manager Shannon Phelps, Park Ranger Roger Blankenship, and Maintenance Worker Chad Shultz operated boats and carried volunteers to conduct shoreline cleanup.
The Patoka Lake, Patoka, Indiana, cleanup event had 150 volunteers participating. Forty 55-gallon bags of trash were removed from the lake.
On Sept. 30 Buckhorn Lake, Buckhorn, Kentucky, staff held its National Public Lands Day event. Volunteers from the community came together to make improvements to the nature trail.
Caesar Creek Lake, Waynesville, Ohio, held its 9th annual Bio Blitz September 22-23. Experts presented programs on topics such as invasive species, moths, mammals, and other natural resources subjects. Rangers from the entire Miami River Area came together to support the activity. Rangers involved were Kim Baker, Taylor Guay, Jessica Zimmer, Samantha Bachelder, Kaela Rupp, Spencer Beard, Mike Perrin and Lake Manager Jim O’Boyle along with local experts, and 42 citizen scientists. They identified many species of life around the park for this 24-hour period. Individual programs were held on fish, trees, wildflowers, birds, moths, bats, and fungus.