Dear Friends of the Haw River,

Please see the attached Word File and text below. We hope you will join 
us 
next spring to clean up the Haw.

Thank you

Mike Holland

***************************************************************

News Release
September 6, 2002
Contact:        Michael Holland, Ph.D.
Phone 336-376-9322 or dr_mike@mindspring.com
www.HawRiverTrail.org
Yearly Haw River Clean-up and School Competition Moves to April

Haw River Clean Sweep Provides A Countywide Earth Day Program

SAXAPAHAW, NC September 6, 2002  The Haw River Clean Sweep and School 
Competition, the leading youth-based waterway clean-up effort on the 
Haw River, announced today a permanent change in the date of this 5th 
annual event. Previously held each September, the Clean-up and School 
Competition will permanently move to the last Saturday in April, to coincide with 
Earth Day activities.  Fundraising efforts to support this event will 
kick-off on the third Saturday of each September, to coincide with International 
Coastal Waterway Clean-up Day. Sponsors who have worked to make this 
coming year’s event possible include Glen Raven, Inc., Bill Powell, NC Senate 
Candidate, Dr. Sam Powell, Alamance County Commissioner, Biscuitville 
and the Graham Cinema.
         When asked about the change of date, Dr. Michael Holland, an 
Environmental Toxicologist and volunteer leader of the effort in 
Alamance County, stated, “The ongoing drought has led to conditions which may 
make it less safe to put children in or near the river. We feel it only 
prudent to postpone our waterway clean-up until after the river has had a 
chance to flush itself of built up toxins and waste from industry, agriculture, 
municipal and residential sources, and returns to normal levels. Given 
the sensitive nature of the developing nervous and organ systems of young 
children, it would be inadvisable to deliberately expose them, as a 
part of a river clean-up, at this time.”  Dr. Holland then explained, “The 
major culprit is algae. Algal blooms, which covered the river for most of 
this summer, have been redistributed onto the banks, as a part of the recent 
bank-full flood. Algae growth is dependent on the amount of nitrogen 
and other nutrients. These nutrients come from human sources such as 
municipal, private and corporate activities, which put treated wastewater into the 
Haw River through Federal NPDES permits. Additionally, agricultural, 
forestry and homeowner practices add nutrient to the river.  Unfortunately, 
during periods of drought, discharge usually continues at “normal” levels, 
even though the water levels are dramatically diminished, thus concentrating 
the negative effects”.  Most of these growths and toxins have been 
transported downstream to coastal estuaries on the Cape Fear River, but unknown 
concentrations are still distributed throughout the vegetation of the 
riverbanks here in Alamance County. These algal husks adhered to 
plants, along with other toxins, need time, water, sunlight and oxygen to be 
broken down by bacteria. We consider it too early in the final stages of this 
drought to be taking a chance with our children’s health, to hold a 
river clean-up this fall. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, El Niòo is just beginning in the Pacific, so we will 
wait for the rains of spring”. Changing the date of the event will offer several other advantages. 
First, will be the opportunity to provide area schools and youth groups with a 
countywide hands-on activity for their Earth Day programs.  Secondly, 
the later part of the school year is an easier time for teachers to 
incorporate an extracurricular program into their schedules.  And finally, the 
spring venue offers a safer time for children with its cooler weather, less 
underbrush near riverbanks and diminished chance of hurricane-season 
flooding. In addition to the change of date, the local effort will be 
focused directly on the Haw River and it’s tributaries, and not 
participate in the September statewide program.
The Haw River Clean Sweep and School Competition is a once-a-year 
hands-on clean-up, and year-round education program, which focuses directly on 
the Haw River and it’s tributaries. The competition encourages teachers to 
bring students to clean the river as volunteers.  Introducing children 
to the river, in this hands-on and immediately gratifying manner, is the 
best way to encourage a life-long commitment to river stewardship. To win 
prizes, teams compete to sign up the most volunteers at various sites 
along the Haw River. The competition is supported by local sponsors, 
including; 
BioQuest Marketing and Business Development, Biscuitville, Brain Train, 
Carolina Biological, County Ford, East Pack, Fidelity Bank, First 
Citizens Bank, Glen Raven, Inc., Graham Cinema, Jordan Properties, Longhorn 
Steak House, Mebtel, Pro Canoe and Kayak, Dr. Christopher Kakavis DDS, Dr. 
Sam Powell, Tom Powell & Associates, William C. Powell, Townsend Bertrum, 
Triton Water, USDA Alamance County Soil and Water Conservation, and 
Waste Industries.
In 2001, 689 volunteers picked up 20 tons of trash in three hours, at 
10 clean up sites from the Haw River and its tributaries.  School 
Competition winners were Rivermill Academy in first place with 63% of the entire 
student body, followed by the Alamance County 4H Club and Boy Scout 
Troop 54.
The next Haw River Clean Sweep will be held from 9:00 a.m. to12:00 
noon, April 26. To locate a site near you visit www.HawRiverTrail.org, after 
November 1.  To register as a team or individual, to volunteer as a 
site coordinator, or for additional information, contact the program 
coordinator, Michael “Dr. Mike” Holland, at 336.376.9322 or 
dr_mike@mindspring.com.