Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission

Take Pride in SML cleanup days net nearly 9 tons of debris

Jun 22, 2023

Community volunteers collected approximately 8.8 tons of debris as part of the 35th Annual Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake (TPISML) cleanup days according to the final 2023 collection report released today.

Bill Butterfield, one of the event’s organizers, said the amount collected throughout the month of May was double that of 2022, and more than twice as many people participated.

“We had 364 volunteers fill an estimated 1,000 trash bags with debris that would otherwise be in the lake,” said Butterfield, president of the  Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA), which organizes the program in collaboration with the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC) and the SML Regional Chamber of Commerce (SMLRCC).

As in 2022, the TPISML committee relied on communities and homeowners/property owners associations to clean up their coves, along the shoreline, on the water or both.  Neighborhood groups, businesses, civic organizations, families and individuals were also encouraged to join the effort by joining these groups or by planning their own clean-up events anytime in May. Supplies were provided, as were several commercial dumpsters.

Each volunteer received a commemorative tote bag and was invited to attend a post-event celebration at Mango’s Bar & Grill with food, beverages and door prizes.

According to the report, volunteers covered more than 35 miles of shoreline, hauling off a vast amount of loose debris. Items collected included plastic and glass bottles, beverage cans, plastic bags, food wrappers, rubber tubs, a paddle boat, a real estate sign, logs and tree branches.

“Our annual cleanup days are critical to the overall health, beauty and safety of Smith Mountain Lake,” said SMLRCC Executive Director Andy Bruns. “We are extremely thankful to the amazing volunteers and generous sponsors who make Take Pride in SML possible.”

Sponsors for 2023’s Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake initiative included Appalachian Power, Western Virginia Water Authority, Berkshire Hathaway Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate. Capps Home Building Center, Glenda McDaniel, Long & Foster Real Estate, Turner’s Dock Building and The Windward Waterfront Lots and Custom Homes.

Site and in-kind sponsors included the W.E. Skelton 4-H Education Conference Center, Crazy Horse Marina, Gills Creek Marina, Magnum Point Marina, Bridgewater Marina & Boat Rentals, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 81, Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue, Pleasure Point POA, Bay Rock Marina, Walnut Run POA, Bays Trash Removal, Bedford County Landfill, C. Clifton Byrd & Son, Firefighter Dumpsters, Franklin County Landfill, and the Smith Mountain Eagle.

The complete cleanup report can be accessed here or at the TLAC office, which is located on the upper level of The Plaza, 400 Scruggs Road, Suite 200 in Moneta.