Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) and their event partners will host a Lakeside Litter Sweep litter cleanup event on Lake Murray September 17, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. KMB is seeking volunteers to clean up islands, shorelines, boat ramps, and natural areas around the lake.
Volunteers are invited to end the summer with a splash by making a difference in keeping Lake Murray litter-free. Check-in will begin at 8:30 am September 17 at three locations: (1) Southshore Marina in Leesville, (2) Lighthouse Marina in Chapin, and (3) Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity. With help from PalmettoPride, Dominion Energy, Lexington County, and other event partners, volunteers will receive a safety and orientation briefing, cleanup supplies, an event t-shirt, sandwich lunch, a thank you gift, and an opportunity to win prizes from local businesses.
Pre-registration is required by September 10. Grab a friend, neighbor, family, or colleague, come alone or form a team, and register now at https://kmbsc.org.
Volunteers with their own boats may travel to islands and shorelines on their own after picking up supplies. No boat, no problem; AquaFun Boat Rentals & Tours and other event partners will shuttle volunteers to various islands on the lake. If you prefer land, select the option to clean the shorelines, boat ramps and nearby roads surrounding the lake. In addition, divers with Wateree Dive Shop and Scuba John’s have volunteered to remove litter below the surface of the lake. Safety is our priority; the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be on hand to support this event.
The Lakeside Litter Sweep is part of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ annual Beach Sweep River Sweep, which works to keep South Carolina’s waterways clean and raise awareness of the impact that litter has on our rivers, lakes, beaches, and oceans as an interconnected system. “Lake Murray is the Midlands’ greatest treasure, and it is so important to keep it clean and healthy.” said Laura Blake-Orr, KMB’s Core Programs Administrator. “We know that many people enjoy recreation on and around the lake each year, and we hope that these same people will join us in giving back and helping to clean it up.”
While the Lakeside Litter Sweep gives citizens the opportunity to work together one time a year on a large-scale, KMB also relies on small volunteer groups to keep our waterways clean year-round. KMB’s Adopt-a-Waterway program, sponsored in part by Dominion Energy, provides volunteer groups recognition for committing to clean a section of waterway including rivers, creeks, boat ramps, and islands at Lake Murray two times a year for two years. For a list of adoptable locations and details about how to adopt a waterway, visit keepthemidlandsbeautiful.org.
