State Rep. Malinda White and the Pearl Riverkeeper, Abby Bramer, want to encourage everybody to remember and to participate in the Pearl River Clean Sweep on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Cleanup teams will set out from more than 30 locations in the Pearl River watershed, from its headwaters in Nanih Waiya, Miss., downriver through the Ross Barnett Reservoir, along the border of Louisiana and Mississippi, and all the way to Pearlington on the Gulf Coast. That is more than 490 river miles.

White, the site leader for the local section of the river, advises everyone to choose the Louisiana Upper Pearl River location.

“We have growing number of boaters registering,” she said. “Over 20 at this time.

“International Paper is donating trash bags, gloves and will have a team to help with the cleanup. Grabbers are being sent to us from the Pearl Riverkeeper, Abby Bramer. The State Wildlife officials will be onsite to assist and for safety purposes.
“The chairman of House Natural Resources, Stuart Bishop will be traveling from Lafayette to participate. State Sen. Beth Mizell is registered as well.”
Jessica Gauley, owner of Honey Island Kayak Tours, who has been leading cleanup events on the Lower Pearl River for over six years, created the Clean Sweep. This year, Bramer will take it to the next level to celebrate “drinkable, swimmable, and fishable water that flows” through 15 counties, two parishes, and two states.

Already, the University of Southern Mississippi Eco Eagles of Gulf Park have signed on to take more than a dozen of their members to the event in kayaks.

To register to participate and to select your location, visit online at www.pearlriverkeeper.com.

The event is not all about work. White said there would be an “after party,” from 8 a.m. until noon.

“The after party will be at the Poole’s Bluff pavilion, and hosted by Dockside Marine,” she said. “Jambalaya and beverages will be provided for participants.”