Trash piles up at Jordan Lake

Tons of trash have washed up along the shorelines of Jordan Lake and created a thick, floating mat that threatens wildlife, Chatham County officials say.

The county and other state and local groups are trying to enlist volunteers, including boat owners, for a watery cleanup at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. The effort will help assess how much trash is present and what it will take to remove it all.

Officials planned the cleanup after discovering the amount of trash that has collected downstream from where the Haw River drains into the lake, according to a news release issued by the county.

"A site inspection revealed dozens of tons of trash along dozens of acres of shoreline, including thousands of recyclable bottles and hundreds of tires as well as coolers, orange highway barrels, Styrofoam materials and balls," the county said in the news release.

"In some places, the mat of trash floating on the water is so wide and thick that it could be detrimental to the habitat of Jordan Lake wildlife."

Haw Riverkeeper Elaine Chiosso was "shocked" at the amount of trash, according to the news release. Chiosso said the trash has come down the river during heavy rains from as far away as Reidsville, Greensboro and Burlington and has been collecting in coves and on shore for years.

The cleanup planned for Oct. 18 will focus on an area about a 45-minute paddle from the Robeson Creek boat ramp. The county's Waste Management Department will provide dumpsters at the boat ramp.

Organizers are looking for volunteers with boats, including motor boats, to help move the trash. They also hope someone will volunteer a boat to use as a trash barge, without worrying about scrubbing the decks, said Tom Colson, an environmental consultant involved with the cleanup.

Other volunteers needed include:

. At least 30 trash sweepers, who will ride in boats (their own or someone else's) to the trash site to collect trash and move it to loading points.

. At least six boat loaders to pick up trash at the loading points and put it in boats. This task will involve being wet much of the time and possibly wearing chest waders.

. Four to six dock workers to remove trash from the boats, sort and catalog the trash and make sure the trash goes into the correct waste containers.

Organizers also are seeking for donors to provide lunch and beverages and to cover the costs of gas, trash bags and gloves.

Those interested have been asked to call Colson at 630-2569. In addition to Chatham County, partners in the project include the Haw River Assembly, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.