The Pearl River is getting a facelift on Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 from one end to the other, and Navy veteran and kayaker organizing it hopes to mobilize volunteers to be a part of the second annual “Pearl River Clean Sweep.”
It’s easy to help, according to Abby Braman, a former Navy helicopter pilot and a marine science major.
“You don’t have to be in charge; you just show up and we’ll hand you the bags,” the Madison resident said.
Braman said times and locations are still to be announced, but she hopes volunteers will once again help in Marion County. Girl Scouts helped with the previous cleanup at the Columbia Water Park. In 2017, the event engaged more than 1,000 volunteers and removed 34,000 pounds of trash for the Pearl River Watershed.
“Cleanup teams will begin at the headwaters of the Pearl in Nanih Waiya, downriver through the Ross Barnett Reservoir, along the border of Mississippi and Louisiana, all the way to Pearlington on the Gulf Coast,” Braman said. “The cleanup also includes locations on the Strong and Bogue Chitto tributaries. The event will celebrate drinkable, swimmable, fishable water in 15 counties, two parishes, two states and over 490 miles of beautiful river.”
The idea started when Braman and her family moved to Madison in July 2016 and she began noticing trash in a local creek and decided to do something about it.
“I enjoy kayaking the Pearl River and I have Brasher’s Creek that runs near my neighborhood and I started noticing a real problem with plastic pollution - plastic bottles and Styrofoam cups everywhere,” she said. “I started posting my pictures on Instagram of what I was finding and collecting. I did a few different things and basically found a community of people doing the same thing all over the world.”
One of those teams is being set up in Marion County.
“We have a team that is going to be based at the Columbia Water Park,” Braman said. “Kristi Raynes is the site leader there. She is part of Girl Scout Troop 3825. The Marion County location will be hosting its cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 22.”
It is easy to help, according to Braman.
“Basically, you can go to the web page www.pearlriverkeeper.com,” she said. “The list of all 20-plus locations is listed on the website and you can see what is closest to you so you can register for that site. There are land and water-based locations. Some of the water-based locations like we are doing in Leake and Scott counties, kayak companies have donated use of kayaks for the cleanups. In other locations, you could bring your own kayaks.”
Pictured Above: Massive amounts of trash can often be found along the banks of the Pearl River. A cleanup day is scheduled for Sept. 22 at the Columbia Water Park. | Submitted Photo
