As one of the largest counties in Georgia’s Piedmont Region, Gwinnett County is abundant with wetlands that surround local creeks, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Wetlands play several significant roles in an area’s ecology. These “saturated lands” act as sponges – collecting and storing excess water to help prevent flooding. They also serve as distinct ecosystems that are habitats for local flora and fauna. As stormwater runoff enters a wetland, often carrying litter and nonpoint source pollutants with it, the wetland captures trash and can even provide some treatment of those pollutants. First proposed by former Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Executive Director Connie Wiggins, Great Gwinnett Wetlands was launched in 2015 to study and protect area wetlands. The event brings volunteers to a designated wetland to protect its health by removing litter. Marking 10 years since its launch, this year's Great Gwinnett Wetlands event is scheduled for Saturday, May 4. Representing a significant milestone in the county’s collective environmental efforts, the event will be a testament to the dedication and hard work of local volunteers and community partners, including Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B) and the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (DWR). 

“Since its inception, Great Gwinnett Wetlands has engaged more than 1,250 volunteers, who have collected more than 150 tires and roughly 1,570 bags of litter, weighing an estimated 28,630 pounds,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “Each year, we strive to evolve this event based on lessons learned from the previous year. Last year, we were excited to incorporate a WaterGoat at Sweetwater Creek. It’s a chain of floating buoys anchored across a body of water that is designed to skim the surface for floating trash. The debris builds up behind the WaterGoat so our volunteers and team members can easily remove the trash for proper disposal. This year, we are expanding the scope of Great Gwinnett Wetlands beyond one site to encompass multiple locations. We need as many volunteers as possible to make our 10^th annual event the best one yet.”

Multiple teams of volunteers will fan out across three locations to collect water quality data, remove litter, and cut back invasive privet that choke the health of the wetlands. Marlatt warned that – given the nature of wetlands - much of the area where the work will be performed is wet and muddy. She asked volunteers to plan accordingly by wearing closed-toe shoes – preferably hiking boots or muck/rain boots – and clothes they won’t mind getting dirty. She also suggested they bring a snack and water bottle to stay hydrated. Check-in for Great Gwinnett Wetlands will be at 8:30 a.m. on May 4. The cleanup is expected to conclude at 1 p.m. Locations for the cleanup include Sweetwater Creek at Omega Drive and – for traditions’ sake – Bethesda Park and Beaver Ruin Wetlands, which have both served individually as former Great Gwinnett Wetlands sites over the years. Marlatt added that the success of this event relies on the dedication and hard work of local volunteers. She invites anyone interested to register for the location of their choosing through Volunteer Gwinnett and be part of this impactful initiative. Volunteers will receive a commemorative t-shirt to thank them for their participation.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” said John Butler, Gwinnett County Water Resources Outreach Manager. “Not only do we get together with a large number of volunteers to enhance and protect vital ecosystems in our community, but volunteers go home with a better understanding of how we impact our environment. We endeavor to equip them with the knowledge necessary to make better decisions and adopt behavior changes that will protect even more of our environment in the future.” 

Great Gwinnett Wetlands is vital to the ongoing stewardship of Gwinnett’s numerous wetlands. In addition to building awareness of the essential role wetlands play, the event also protects their vitality through the removal of litter and overgrowth, both of which harm water resources like the Yellow River, Jackson Lake, and, ultimately, the near-pristine Altamaha River. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and its upcoming events, please visit www.GwinnettCB.org.