Vicksburg, Miss… The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers invites the public to participate in Water Sweep 2013 on Saturday, 21 September. This eighth annual award winning event was originated in 2006 to have volunteers clean along the shoreline and remove unwanted obstacles from the banks of the river and water. The goal is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational areas along the river and make a difference in the scenic Ouachita River’s waterways and shorelines.
Registration and activities begin at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until 1:00 p.m. Staging sites will be located at Lazarre Park in West Monroe, Forsythe Park in Monroe, Moon Lake Recreation Area, Sterlington Recreation Area, and Cheniere Lake Area 3 Boat Launch. After the event, participants are invited to Moon Lake Marina for a hot dog lunch.
The Vicksburg District’s Louisiana Field Office (LFO) rangers along with co-sponsors Keep Monroe Beautiful, Keep West Monroe Beautiful, and Keep Ouachita Parish Beautiful organizations will be on-site to meet volunteers. Volunteers of past Water Sweep events have helped remove an average of eight tons of debris from the river each year. Some of the items removed are bottles, styrofoam, plastics, cans, tires and metal objects. Cleaning materials and life jackets will be provided.
Volunteers can make a difference - bring your boat, all-terrain vehicle, or just yourself and have a fun-filled day that will benefit your community. If you enjoy fishing, skiing, swimming, boating, picnicking or taking in the natural beauty of the Ouachita River, you can appreciate efforts to preserve this part of “Sportsman’s Paradise” for present and future generations.
“We all have a great time during the event, and when the work is over, there is a feeling of pride knowing that we have helped our environment,” stated Diane Golden, LFO ranger.
Contact Diane Golden at 318-324-5484 for more information. To preregister, contact Keep Ouachita Parish Beautiful at 318-355-5622 or www.watersweep.org. Preregistered participants will be given t-shirts while they last.
The Vicksburg District’s LFO provides day-use activities and camping at two river systems and three lakes and encompasses the Ouachita-Black River, Red River, Bayou Bodcau, Caddo Lake, Wallace Lake, Grand Ecore Visitor Center, and the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Regional Visitor Center. The annual attendance at these areas has totaled over 1.3 million visitors.