Sweep the Hooch-Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

1 Day, 18 Sites, and A LOT OF TRASH!

SAVE THE DATE: April 14, 2012 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Our inaugural Sweep the Hooch event was such a smashing success last year that we're bringing it back again this year. In partnership with the Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the National Parks Service, this is a multi-site cleanup within the 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA). We plan to tackle 11 Park Units and paddle seven segments. Despite inclement weather the night before which hindered our paddling efforts, our inaugural cleanup resulted in 2.76 tons of trash along with 1,500 pounds or material we later recycled! So save the date for next year's cleanup on April 14, 2012!

2011 SWEEP THE HOOCH
Thank you to our Sweep the Hooch Event Sponsors. The following organizations have generously made contributions to support all 18 cleanup sites!

REI (sponsor of First Aid Kits)
ReMix Recycling and GreenPlate.org (co-sponsors for Recycling our Trash)
OrangeHalo.com (co-sponsor for our Volunteer Tshirts)
Republic Services (providing the roll-off dumpster for all the trash!) 

What better way to begin 2011 than with a little spring cleaning! While it’s obvious to most that river cleanups improve the quality of our water, we’ve discovered that they do much more than that. Cleanups are also a great way to develop a sense of “river community” -- this is your chance to volunteer and be part of this community.

UCR, National Park Service and Trout Unlimited (TU) have joined together to organize a multi-site cleanup within the 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) . We will be tackling 11 Park Units and paddling 7 segments. While this is the first time we’ve undertaken a cleanup of this magnitude all on one day, we envision this as an annual event that will become a favorite of our volunteers.

And our timing couldn’t be better for this event as it’s National Park Week from April 16 - 24, 2011. All 392 national parks across the country (including the CRNRA) will have free admission during National Park Week.

Each site has a capacity and will close once we reach that capacity – so register early! All volunteers will receive a Sweep the Hooch t-shirt!

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS: All Sites have reached capacity. This event is now closed and no other volunteers can be accepted. Be sure to sign up early in 2012!

Click here to view a map of the entire CRNRA and learn more about the locations listed below.

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SITE SPONSORS AND HOSTS!

Walkers:

McGinnis Ferry

Island Ford ... SPONSOR - REI

Gold Branch ... (Site Host: REI)

Johnson Ferry ... SPONSOR - RBC Bank

Powers Island … SPONSOR (and Site Host) - Carter Development

Sope Creek ... (Site Host: Atlanta Outdoor Club)

Whitewater Creek …SPONSOR - Columbia Management (Site Host: Generation Green)

Waders:

Bowman’s Island (Site Host: Tailwater TU)
Settles Bridge (Site Host: Oconee River TU, Kanooka TU)
Jones Bridge … SPONSOR - UBS Financial Services Inc. (Site Host: Upper Chattahoochee TU)
Island Ford (Site Host: Cohutta TU)
Whitewater Creek (Site Host: Georgia Women Flyfishers, Flint River TU)

Paddlers:

Buford Dam (Lower Overlook) to Settles Bridge - 5 miles
Settles Bridge to Abbotts Bridge - 8 miles (Site Host: Georgia Kayak Fishing)
Jones Bridge (Fulton Side) to Garrard Landing - 4 miles
Garrard Landing to Island Ford - 5 miles
Azalea Park (in and out) - 3 miles
Morgan Falls Park to Powers Island - 6 miles (Site Host: GreenPlate.org)
Powers Island to Paces Mill - 3 miles - Experienced Paddlers Only (Site Host: Surfrider)

SPONSORS: As a Site Sponsor of this event, your support will allow us to cover our costs for equipment and supplies. For $500, you will be listed as the Site Sponsor on our website and your logo will be included in the Volunteer T-shirt and media coverage of the event. We also have opportunities for sponsorship of the entire event, such as t-shirts, equipment, drinks/snacks, etc. Being a Sponsor does not require volunteering the day of the event, but you are welcome to register for the event and spread the word to your staff. For more details on these benefits, please contact Tammy Bates or Becca Klein at 404-352-9828.