Logan Martin Lake is a boon to this entire section of the state. Easily reachable from Birmingham, Anniston, Talladega, and part of the permanent life of Pell City, it is a magnet that draws visitors and residents alike to its shores.
Keeping the lake clean should not be a major problem. All that is required is for folks visiting the lake not to chunk old tires into the water, not to carelessly drop plastic bottles over the sides of their boats or to fling their soda or beer cans into the water.
But they do.
Fortunately, we have people like Bud Kitchin, chairman of this year’s cleanup, who said the annual event went great.
“The lake level was down about five to six feet from summer pool,” he said. We were able to get out and walk the shoreline.”
Walk they did, picking up other people’s trash to clean up what should be a pristine area for those who live or play on the lake. That is not easy or pleasant work.
One indication of participation is the number of T-shirts given out to those who participate. The entire stock of 600 was gone, meaning at least that many people helped out. Some volunteers didn’t get shirts because of the limited number available. They know who they are, and so do their friends and neighbors, and they can take pride in the work they did.
Volunteers from Boy Scouts to high school students to Kiwanis Club members to folks who just want a cleaner lake took part. Alabama Power, which manages the lake for power generation, partners with the Boy Scouts to provide a Renew our Rivers patch to Scouts who participate.
All in all, it was a great effort. As the season progresses, fisherman won’t have to worry so much about hooking a tire or tangled mess of garden hose. Skiers won’t have to dodge floating debris, and property owners won’t have to deal with as much garbage washing ashore at their docks.
Now, if we could just stop those folks who will begin anew the practice of using the lake as dumping ground.
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