Volunteers clean up Lake Travis, double attendance

The Daily Texan - Top Stories
Issue: 07/18/2005
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By Jessica Shelton

More than 420 volunteers came together Saturday morning for the 20th annual Lake Travis Parks Cleanup. From 9 a.m. until noon, citizens from the Austin and Lake Travis area gathered trash and recyclables along the roads, shorelines and parks.

Doubling last year's 200 volunteers, participants worked along Mansfield Dam as well as Pace Bend, Sandy Creek, Arkansas Bend, Hippie Hollow and other parks.

Following the cleanup, participants were invited to a volunteer appreciation lunch where they were given a chance to win prizes that included overnight stays at area hotels.

The Lake Travis Cleanup was started 20 years ago by Travis County and was later joined by the Lower Colorado River Authority and, most recently, Keep Austin Beautiful, a nonprofit organization.

According to Brian Block, executive director of Keep Austin Beautiful, many volunteers came from fraternities, company groups, girl scout troops, environmental clubs and homeowner groups.

"We are really trying to get homeowners groups to become involved," said Charles Williams, conservation coordinator for Travis county. "Runoff from the neighborhoods can be a problem, and we like to catch it before that."

Volunteers Kurt Baty and Michelle Doty came with their neighborhood association.

"We've been volunteering for the past six or seven years." Baty said. "We try to be the largest group that helps out."

Using wheelbarrows, Baty and his group gathered a total of 30 bags of trash, two bags of aluminum cans, a chair, a sofa and even a power-steering assembly from the roadsides.

After collected, the trash and recyclables are measured. Last year participants picked up 3.5 tons of trash and 350 pounds of aluminum metals.

Other events sponsored by Travis county, Keep Austin Beautiful and LCRA include Clean Sweep in April and a Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup, which takes place in September. According to Williams these events are meant to encourage people to take responsibility of keeping the parks clean.

"We want our volunteers to take ownership of the parks. It's not enough to just go around a few times a year," Williams said. "We want people to pick out parks they enjoy and help keep them clean all the time. We want people to be proud of their community. Be proud of your neighborhoods, parks and lakes. Keep it clean."

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