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Savannah River cleanup part of national waterways week
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Savannah — Along with thousands of volunteers taking part in hundreds of cleanups across the country to remove trash from rivers and streams, local citizens are tackling pollution in the Savannah River, as part of National River Cleanup Week 2007. The Savannah Riverkeeper and Marine Rescue Squadron 5A are making it happen.

“The Savannah Riverkeeper is dedicated to protecting the Savannah River because a healthy community starts with a healthy river,” said Frank Carl, the Savannah Riverkeeper’s executive director.

National River Cleanup Week, presented by American Rivers, kicks off a series of community-based stream cleanups nationwide beginning the week of June 2-10. This popular annual event raises public awareness of the magnitude of trash accumulating in our nation’s waterways.

“The Savannah River is so important to our community that we’ve got to take every opportunity we can to protect it, for us and for future generations. Keeping it clean is one way that citizens can help care for the river we all love,” said Joe Hinely, member of Marine Rescue Squadron 5A in Port Wentworth.

The Savannah River is an alluvial river, its waters originate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia and flow southeasterly over 300 miles until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean, about 13 miles downstream from Savannah’s River Street. The river’s basin is a haven for more than 75 rare and endangered species, such as the robust redhorse fish, the swallow-tailed kite, shoal’s spiderlily and the wild cocoa tree.

During National River Cleanup Week, citizens can spend an hour cleaning up the banks of the Savannah River on June 2 from 9 a.m.-noon at Houlihan Park on Highway 25, next to the historic Houlihan Bridge. Supplies are provided, including refreshments. For more information call (912) 228-5471 for information.