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DNR News
SC Dept. of Natural Resources
P 0 Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202

** Archived Article - please check for current information. **

NEWS RELEASE #05-190
September 12, 2005

Volunteers are needed to help with landing cleanups along South Carolina's Scenic Black River during September, according to the Scenic Black River Advisory Council and Keep Williamsburg Beautiful.

    Beach Sweep/River Sweep is an annual nationwide cleanup of America's waterways that takes place in September, according to Mary Crockett, project manager for the Scenic Black River with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Columbia.

    For more information on the 2005 Scenic Black River cleanup call Stephanie Evans with Keep Williamsburg Beautiful at (843) 355-6431; or Crockett with the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Program, DNR, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202, (803) 734-9111, fax (803) 734-9200, or by e-mail at crockettm@dnr.sc.gov.

  The planned cleanup sites, times, and site captains along the Scenic Black River are:

• Wednesday Sept. 14, 3-5 p.m., Kingstree Home and Garden will need volunteers to help them clean Gilland Memorial Park Landing in Kingstree located in Williamsburg County, Site captain is Stephanie Evans, (843) 355-6431.
• Thursday, Sept. 15, 4-5 p.m. at Gilland Memorial Park, Kingstree in Williamsburg County with the St. Ann's Outreach Center. Site captain is Leslee Spivey, (843) 355-6431.
• Friday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Students from Andrews High School will welcome local volunteers to help them work on Red's Landing off SC 41 just north of Andrews in Georgetown County. Site captains are Kristen Jacobs and Craig Evans, (843) 264-3414.
• Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to noon, the Department of Special Needs will need assistance in cleaning the Mill Street Landing in Kingstree located in Williamsburg County. The site captain is Berry Hinson, (843) 355-6431.
• Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to noon at Pea House and Pine Tree Landings on County Road 38, off SC 41, east of Andrews in Georgetown County, the site captains are Dan Scheffing, (843) 761-8193, and Deanna Ruth, (843) 354-9621.
• Sunday, Sept. 18, 2-4 p.m., Ervin Landing in Bloomingvale on County Road 688 off SC 527 in Williamsburg County. Site captains are Mike Tisdale, (843) 264-3411, extension 23, and Matt Nespeca, (843) 527-2557.
  Volunteers will meet rain or shine to clean up the sites. Trash bags will be supplied. Volunteers need to bring their own rake, trash pick, gloves and water. Any volunteers willing to help clean the landings along the Scenic Black River are welcomed, said Crockett.

    Beach Sweep/River Sweep is an annual cleanup of South Carolina waterways that takes place nationwide in September, Crockett explained. "Thousands of volunteers take part in Beach Sweep/River Sweep across South Carolina," Crockett said. "It's the largest cleanup of aquatic litter and debris. Anyone can participate including businesses, clubs, civic organizations, school and church groups, families or individuals that want to contribute to the conservation of our waterways."

    A 75-mile segment of the Black River in Clarendon, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties became a State Scenic River in June 2001 under the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Act. The scenic river segment on the Black River begins at County Road 40 in Clarendon County and extends southeast to Pea House Landing on County Road 38 in Georgetown County. Most of this section contains flowing blackwater shouldered by a ribbon of dense, undisturbed swamp forests, sandy white sandbars at low water levels and unique alternating lake-like and narrow river areas. This ribbon of wild and undeveloped land provides high quality habitat for a variety of plant and animal species including some rare, threatened and endangered species.
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