FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Harlow @ 512-478-8813
October 18, 2001

TEXAS WATERWAYS GET A "PICK-ME-UP"
Volunteers hit the shores of lakes & rivers for cleanups

(Austin, Texas)- This fall 45 Texas communities enhanced their community environments by picking up debris as part of the Lake and River Cleanup Program sponsored by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) and Keep Texas Beautiful. Approximately 15,000 volunteers cleaned up everything from soda cans and cigarette butts to tires and illegal dump-sites.

The state of Texas has thousands of miles of waterways. From indispensable lakes and rivers, to meandering creeks and streams. But did you know that nearly 250 Texas waterways are currently on the impaired waters list from the TNRCC? And did you know that Keep Texas Beautiful affiliate volunteers provide nothing short of maid service, offering their time to clean up litter and trash from our waterways, saving millions of your tax dollars every year?

Keep Texas Beautiful, the coordinator of the statewide Lake & River Cleanup program in conjunction with TNRCC, aims to empower Texans through education to enhance their community environments. Education was the goal of some activities that went beyond picking up the trash that pollutes these bodies of water. Volunteers distributed over 60,000 door hangers to educate the public about the issue of Nonpoint Source Pollution- the concept that much of the damage to our water supplies comes from sources that cannot be pinpointed, such as litter. Some communities even had the information printed in their monthly utility bill, thereby reaching almost every member of a community. Door hangers and utility bills were printed in both English and Spanish. These projects create a wonderful opportunity to involve and educate members of a community: students, scout groups, civic organizations, and businesses.

Water brings vitality to our community. A clean body of water promotes tourism, provides a place to relax and have fun, and, ultimately, is essential for all people and wildlife. Keep Texas Beautiful, the nonprofit state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, strives to empower Texans through education to take responsibility for enhancing their community environment. KTB works with volunteers, elected officials, businesses and state and federal agencies to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take individual responsibility for making Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. For more information on programs and events, call 1-800-CLEAN-