NCWF Joins Friends of Valdese Park for Lake Rhodhiss Clean-Up
Lake Rhodhiss is a clean, clear reservoir of the Catawba River buttressed by Burke and Caldwell counties. Through grants from the Clean Water and Parks Trust Funds, the town of Valdese was able to protect 300 acres for a new Valdese Lakeside Park. River and lake currents wash large amounts of trash into several coves within the new park. However, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation stepped in to help with a Lake Rhodhiss clean-up as part of our clean and green habitat restoration efforts.
In conjunction with the town and Friends of Valdese Park and Recreation, NCWF organized a clean-up with more than 65 volunteers. A full dump truck was filled with sorted recyclables and the rest of the garbage was bagged and hauled away. “The NC Wildlife Federation provided tremendous assistance in helping us to organize a lake cleanup day,” said Doug Knight, director of Valdese Parks and Recreation. “Thanks to their expertise, supplies and a clear plan, we were able to do a large cleanup project in just about two hours. This was a tremendous project to introduce our community to the importance of volunteerism in keeping our lake shores clean.”
Restore Habitat and Save Wildlife
North Carolina’s litter problem isn’t going away anytime soon without a collective, statewide effort to adopt streams and roads for cleaning and cleanups around the state.
Our Keep it Clean, Make it Green habitat restoration project tackles the issue of trash’s impacts on wildlife head-on by proactively organizing garbage cleanups, followed by native tree, shrub and pollinator plant installations.
When we Keep it Clean, Make it Green (remove what doesn’t belong and replace it with what does), we also:
- Increase tree canopy and enhance habitat;
- Improve neighborhood appeal and property values; and
- Engage and strengthen communities.
Get Involved, Join a Chapter
NCWF is working to form a Community Wildlife Chapter around Lake Rhodhiss, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife-related activities. Those interested in getting involved with the chapter should contact Tara Moore at [email protected] or (704) 332-5696.