Beautiful Midlands: Lake Murray Cleanup Coming Soon!

Beautiful Midlands: Lake Murray Cleanup Coming Soon!

Hey there, Midlands folks! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and make a difference? Well, mark your calendars because Keep the Midlands Beautiful is hosting their sixth annual lake and rivers cleanup on Saturday, September 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.! It’s a perfect opportunity to get outside, meet some awesome people, and—most importantly—help clean up our beloved Lake Murray and its surrounding waterways.

What’s the Deal?

So, what can you expect on cleanup day? If you’re all about that water life and have your own boat, you can head out to the islands and shorelines after grabbing your cleanup supplies. But if you don’t own a boat, don’t worry! Several charter and rental companies around Lake Murray will provide free shuttles for registered volunteers to get you to various cleanup spots. How cool is that?

Not a fan of boating? No problem at all! You can choose to tackle the shorelines, boat ramps, and roads around the lake instead. And here’s an exciting twist—if you’re a certified diver, you’re invited to join the cleanup with the Wateree Dive Center. Dive in and help keep our underwater environments pristine!

Clean Up at Your Own Pace

If you’re busy that day but still want to help, Keep the Midlands Beautiful has got your back. You can swing by their office to pick up supplies for river cleanups whenever it fits into your schedule. You’ll still be counted as part of the event—score!

Registration and Check-in

Don’t forget—the registration deadline is coming up fast on Friday, September 6! You can sign up as an individual or as a group. On the day of the event, check-in for the Lake Murray cleanup will kick off at three different locations:

• Southshore Marina in Leesville
• Catfish Johnny’s-Rusty Anchor Restaurants in Chapin
• Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity

Between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., you’ll get all the deets on safety, maps, and cleanup supplies. Plus, you’ll score an event t-shirt and a little thank-you gift for all your hard work. Talk about perks!

Safety First!

The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will also be on-site to ensure everyone stays safe while cleaning up. It’s a team effort for our community!

Why It Matters

Now, you might be wondering why this is so important. This Lake Sweep/River Sweep event is part of the SCDNR’s and the SC Sea Grant Consortium’s annual efforts to keep our beautiful state’s waterways clean and raise awareness about the impact of litter on our rivers, lakes, beaches, and oceans. Nothing brings people together like a common mission, right?

Traude Sander, the Executive Director of Keep the Midlands Beautiful, emphasizes just how lucky we are to have Lake Murray at our doorstep: “We must do everything we can to protect this amazing resource so that we can all enjoy it, safely, now and for many years to come.”

Year-Round Cleanup Love

Remember, while this event is a fantastic opportunity to dive in (literally and figuratively!), KMB also encourages small volunteer groups to help keep nearly 100 waterways clean all year long. Their Adopt-a-Waterway program lets groups commit to cleaning a specific section of waterway at least twice a year for two years. If you’re interested in adopting a waterway, check out the Keep the Midlands Beautiful website for more details.

So, what do you say? Let’s come together, have some fun, and show our waterways the love they deserve. Signup and let’s keep our Midlands beautiful!