Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In partnership with the City of West Point and the West Point Development Authority, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) is hosting a paddle cleanup of the Chattahoochee River.

The cleanup will be held on the morning of Friday, Oct. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in West Point. The cleanup will cover approximately three miles of the river, including a few small shoals.

“It should be a fun morning on the river, where people can paddle, enjoy the river and also help out to keep it clean,” said CRK Deputy Director Henry Jacobs.

CRK will provide sit-on-top kayaks at no cost, but participants are welcome to use their own boats. With some exceptions, inflatable boats are not allowed, i.e., serious river-worthy inflatable vessels are okay, but don’t bring a pool float. 

Participants need to be able to swim efficiently and be able to get in and out of a kayak easily. Kids 10 and up are invited to participate (15 if paddling alone without an adult.)  

Participants are also invited to lunch afterward at Johnny’s Pizza in West Point.

Cleanups such as these have a major impact on the health of the river, Jacobs said.

“It helps that we’re out there, cleaning up the trash for whatever reason has ended up in our river,” Jacobs said. “If the trash stays in our river, it’s going to break down to many pieces over time. Whether that ends up in wildlife or the sediment, it’s not a good thing, so cleanups are vital to keeping the Chattahoochee clean.”

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and others have made major strides in keeping the river clean, but the work is not done.

So far this year, thanks to volunteers helping Chattahoochee Riverkeeper through numerous events, about 47 tons of trash has been removed from Chattahoochee River, and they’re not done yet.

“We’ve got a few months left here with this cleanup, and with the help of the City of West Point, it’s just another great opportunity to get out and protect our river,” Jacobs said.

For more information, contact Jacobs at hjacobs@chattahoochee.org.To sign up, visit https://chattahoochee.wufoo.com/forms/west-point-paddle-cleanup-oct-18.