Learning how to experience the state’s scenic river trail will be among the topics presented

What are you doing March 17, say, around 6 p.m.? Whatever you’re up to, cancel it, because you should come to the spring meeting of the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association instead.   

Members and prospective members are welcomed to attend.

LMLPA Meetings are a lot of fun, and pretty informative to boot. In fact – here are three things I guarantee you’ll learn if you show up:

1. How to pitch in at the Annual Lake Cleanup

Presented by Bud Kitchin, Logan Martin Lake Protection Association

Renew Our Rivers has grown from a single river cleanup event in Gadsden to a nationally recognized campaign that includes Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle, six river systems and brings together more than 10,000 volunteers.  Alabama Power, with the help of volunteers around the Southeast, removed more than 10 million pounds of trash from 2000 to 2009 through Renew Our Rivers. The trash and debris removed includes bottles and cans to tires, water heaters, refrigerators and boats. The Logan Martin Lake Clean-up will be held at various locations beginning March 26. The community cleanup will be Saturday, April 2 from 8 a.m. and end at noon. A picnic lunch will follow at Lakeside Landing off Highway 31 south of Pell City.

2. How to experience the Alabama Scenic River Trail

Presented by Fred Couch, President of Alabama Scenic River Trail

I find it hard to believe that I never knew this existed until recently. The Alabama Scenic River Trail is 1,000 miles of accessible waterways with amenities and campsites to support everything from long-distance touring to organized paddles to races, overnight trips or any kind of day trip you might imagine. It’s all waiting for the whitewater enthusiast, the naturalist and the family who just wants to play. The Alabama, Coosa, Tensaw, Tennessee, Cahaba and other rivers, the Mobile-Tensaw delta; and Terrapin and Hatchett and Weogufka Creeks comprise the main waterways of the trail. They offer access to big cities and small towns and a way of life that hasn’t existed for many years. Get your canoe, kayak or powerboat out on Alabama’s rivers and return to nature like you’ve never seen it.

3. How to do cool new stuff on the LMLPA Website

Presented by Eric Housh, Logan Martin Lake Protection Association

New for 2011, the LMLPA website at www.lmlpa.org has been totally redesigned to be more user friendly. You can now join or renew your membership online, keep up with current events, and view information about our major projects.

Also new for 2011, the LMLPA is now on Facebook. With over 500 million registered users (44,000 around Logan Martin Lake alone) Facebook is an immensely popular website. You can find (and “Like”) the LMLPA at www.facebook.com/protectloganmartin.