HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. – Army Corps of Engineers personnel ask you to please reserve Sept. 6 on your calendar to take part in the 45th Annual Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Cleanup.
In recognition of the Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day Act, this event, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., is scheduled the first Saturday after Labor Day each year.
The Greers Ferry Project Office will waive camping fees Sept. 5 and Sept. 6 for individuals and groups participating in the cleanup. Day use fees will be waived Sept. 6 and Sept. 7. Registration at the gatehouse is required.
Volunteers interested in assisting should check in at 8 a.m. at Choctaw Marina, Peter’s Sugar Loaf Marina, Lacey’s Narrows Marina, Smith’s Hill Creek Marina, Heber Springs Marina, Fairfield Bay Marina, Eden Isle Marina, Dam Site Park gatehouse, and Shiloh Park gatehouse.
If you prefer cleaning up the Little Red River, the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery and Chapter 722 of Trout Unlimited will be checking in volunteers at 8 a.m. at the entrance of John F. Kennedy Park.
Cleanup sponsors encourage those who want to clean a favorite area to call in before Sept. 6. To sign up for lake areas call the Corps at 501-362-2416. To sign up to clean around JFK Park, Collins Creek or the fish hatchery, call the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery at 501-362-3615. For general information call the association’s toll-free at 888-490-4357.
Boat owners will not have to use their boats to transport the recovered trash around the lakeshore. The Corps has made arrangements for contractors to pick up trash left by the volunteers along the shoreline. To facilitate the contractor pick-up, volunteers should leave the bagged trash in conspicuous locations around the shoreline for later pick-up. Trash bags for shoreline litter will be furnished to all participants at the check-in stations.
River volunteers are encouraged to bring bagged trash back to John F. Kennedy Pavilion to prevent it from being scatted back downstream during times of water generation.
A catfish lunch with all the trimmings and soft drinks will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. to the first 600 volunteers at Lacey’s Narrows Marina Pavilion. Entertainment during lunch will include the Harding Choir, Jason Greenlaw and the Groove as well as an arena bounce-house, face painting, water safety booth with games, recycling booth with prizes, caricature drawings for the whole family, door prizes and more.
The Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Association will hold a special dedication ceremony at the luncheon for the late Carl Garner, cleanup founder.
Trout Unlimited Chapter 722 will provide a hamburger and hot dog luncheon for river cleanup volunteers at the John F. Kennedy Pavilion beginning at 11:30 am.
Cleanup sponsors include: the Army Corps of Engineers, Greers Ferry Lake & Little Red River Association, Greers Ferry Lake National Fish Hatchery, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, Save Greers Ferry Lake, Trout Unlimited Chapter 722, XTO Energy, KFFB 106.1 Radio, Corning Publishing, Tailwater Fishing Company and Royal-Tees.
Special thanks to Chambers of Commerce in Augusta, Bald Knob, Beebe, Clinton, Fairfield Bay, Greers Ferry, Heber Springs, McCrory, and Searcy.