VARNELL, Ga. — Holliane Wade admits it was difficult picking up litter outdoors in the cold and wind on Saturday morning, but said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I like participating in anything dealing with the environment,” said Wade, a freshman at Dalton State College. 

Wade was a volunteer at Prater’s Mill here during the 24th annual Conasauga River Watershed Clean-up sponsored by Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful. It was part of Georgia’s Rivers Alive statewide waterways clean-up day. 

Locally, volunteers cleaned up at seven sites in Whitfield and Murray counties, including Coahulla Creek at Prater’s Mill, Conasauga River at Carlton Petty Road bridge, Conasauga River at Ga. Highway 2 bridge, Conasauga River at Lower Kings Bridge/Norton Bridge Road, Holly Creek in the Chattahoochee National Forest (in Murray County), Lakeshore Park and the Mill Creek tributary in Dalton.

There were about 64 volunteers at Prater’s Mill, according to Gretchen Lugthart, organizer and volunteer for the site.

This year was the first time Wade, Tiffany Beavers and Michelle Cleary, all education majors at the college, participated. 

Beavers said she chose Prater’s because it’s a “beautiful place.” The group said they found everything from syringes, beer cans, plastic and baseball cards. 

“One thing I learned today is litter from the side of the road makes it way into creeks, rivers and oceans,” Beavers said, adding that she previously thought litter was being deposited directly into creeks. 

Cleary, who lives five minutes from Prater’s, said it was important to volunteer. 

“We live here so it’s up to us to keep it clean,” she said. “If we don’t, who’s going to for our next generation?” 

Melanie Chapman, president of the Prater’s Mill Foundation, said the historic site had a “good turnout.”

“We’ve been picking up trash around the river banks, nature trails and highways,” she said.  “We’re thankful for all the help we’re getting from young people, students and volunteers.”

Chapman said she’s an advocate for preservation of the historic sites.

“We’re all working together today across Georgia. It’s a good effort on everyone’s part to work together to make this area better.” 

Kasey Ingram and Emilee Jones, sophomores at Dalton State College, were applying what they’ve learned in class while clearing the clutter.

“We are taking a conservation biology class,” Jones said. “The class teaches us how humans influenced extinctions on different species and the environment.” Ingram said she and Jones felt that helping out Saturday would help them learn more about the environment they live in.