 TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE EVENT, CLICK HERE
At Tate Boat Dock near Monticello on Jan. 31, Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5) and local officials helped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers kick off a cleanup campaign that will take advantage of Lake Cumberland’s lower water level to remove trash and woody debris from its shoreline.
The Corps of Engineers will coordinate collection and disposal of debris along exposed shores while the lake level is at 680 feet. The Corps, local governments and volunteers will provide manpower to gather the debris on shore. The PRIDE of the Cumberland boat will remove debris from the water. Wood will be destroyed on the shoreline, and trash will be taken to recycling centers or landfills.
“The Corps, PRIDE and the Friends of Lake Cumberland are ready to make lemons into lemon aid,” said Congressman Hal Rogers, who represents the Lake Cumberland area. “Using this time while Wolf Creek Dam is being fixed, we’ll go after dead trees and trash with a vengeance.”
“The job is very challenging but with the endorsement of Congressman Rogers and the support of the PRIDE organization, counties and volunteer organizations, such as the Friends of Lake Cumberland, significant strides can be made to keep Lake Cumberland clean and scenic,” said Col. Bernard Lindstrom, Commander of the Nashville District of the Corps of Engineers, which manages the lake.
“Keeping the lake clean is an ongoing process, but we can be more aggressive while we have the opportunity to access more shoreline by land,” said Tom Hale, the Corps’ Operations Manager for the Eastern Kentucky Area. “Today, we finished a trial run at cleaning a large section of shore, and we now are ready to work with local governments and volunteers to expand the effort. We will target the spots most congested by debris.”
At today’s event, the Corps destroyed woody debris that had been collected near Fall Creek Campground. Trash already had been removed and sent to the landfill. The Corps worked with local governments on several small-scale cleanup projects last August.
Local officials from the communities around the lake, as well as dock owners, attended the event.
To volunteer to assist with the cleanup effort, please contact Tom Hale at the Corps of Engineers office in Somerset at 606.679.6337.
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