Volunteers and stream cleanup organizers from Georgia gathered in Atlanta on April 24 to recognize the achievements of the Rivers Alive program, the state’s largest volunteer cleanup effort. The program aims to protect Georgia’s vast waterways, which exceed 70,000 miles. The Chattooga County 4-H program received one of the awards during this celebration.

In the 2024 cleanup year, 5,800 volunteers worked to clean 580 miles of waterways, collecting more than 333,000 pounds of trash and recyclables, including items such as cigarette butts, plastic bottles, car parts, and mattresses. Rivers Alive is managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The awards ceremony at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park honored various volunteer groups, individuals, and businesses for their cleanup contributions. Award winners included Coweta County WSA, Liberty Elementary School, Archer High School, Dalton State College, Chattooga County 4-H, and others. The 2024 Rivers Alive Sponsors were International Paper, Southwire Company, Georgia Power Company, Burns & McDonnell, WSP Global Inc., Terracon, and Lynn Cobb.

Complete list of winners:

Adopt-A-Stream – Coweta County WSA
K-Middle School – Liberty Elementary School
High School – Uni – Archer High School
Diversity of Partnerships – Dalton State College
4-H – Chattooga County 4-H
Scout – BSA Troop 103
Government Partner – Fort Moore Help the Hooch
Keep Georgia Beautiful – Keep Golden Isles Beautiful
Nonprofit Organization – Liberty Vineyard Church
Coastal Cleanup – Little Saint Simons Island
Georgia Club – Zeta Phi Beta & Phi Beta Sigma
Business – Georgia Power