FRIENDS OF LAKE KEOWEE SOCIETY

Lake Sweeps

There is a week set aside in the spring and fall for the event. About 100 boats go out and collect whatever trash they find along their designated section of the 370 mile shoreline.

The large plastic bags are provided by Duke Energy and Palmetto Pride. The location of any very large items is reported to Duke Energy Lake Services (DELS) and they have a contractor pick up these large pieces. The bags collected by the volunteers are dropped off at the closest Duke Energy Access Area and are collected by their maintenance employees.Most of the trash comes from packaging for picnics, diapers, broken plastic rafts, and some “unmentionables”. Hundreds of bags are collected each year and the total since 1994 ranges up into the tens of thousands!

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FOLKS is always looking for additional volunteers for Lake Sweep as it is vital to keep the thousands of pounds of trash out of this beautiful lake. Trash affects not only the beauty of being on Lake Keowee but can damage boats and is harmful to fish.

 

It's another service provided by FOLKS to the people of Oconee and Pickens county to help maintain the single most valuable asset of this area. Please join us!
 

ADOPT-an-ISLAND

The Adopt-an-Island program began in December 2009 with a grant check presented to then President Bill Graham and Idea Champion, Jack Lewis. The funding provided for producing new aluminum island signs which were “planted” in concrete by a group of volunteers led by Jack. The GPS coordinates of the Island number signs were given to DNR as well as the Oconee County Marine Patrol so boaters having a problem could cite the island number nearby and the patrols would know where to go to assist. Although not official navigation aids, they do help boaters get around the lake.

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Individuals and HOA’s volunteered to adopt islands and the program was off to a good start. However we are always in need of additional volunteers as others retire from the project. The individuals or group check the island during the official lake sweeps and at least two more times a year as needed. One of the issues is that people are not aware that islands are only for day use and no fires are allowed.

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Please contact FOLKS through our Volunteer Form to find out about adopting an island near you. There are still several islands that need to be adopted!

 

Adopt An Island Report Form  - print form, fill out and email it to FOLKS@KeoweeFolks.org OR you can fill out the Island Keeping Report Form online HERE.

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WATER TESTING

FOLKS has joined with Adopt-a-Stream and Clemson University to enable our members to get certified and do source water testing throughout the region. Join your neighbors in helping keep Lake Keowee clean, clear, safe and beautiful!

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KEOWEE Magazine

 

FOLKS is always looking for local writers to submit articles and announcements. We also need an experienced volunteer to reach out to local businesses to expand our advertising base and grow our business and corporate memberships. KEOWEE (formerly The Sentinel) is an excellent publication with a focused demographic of lakeside residents -- an advertiser's dream!

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Committees

FOLKS has various committees that always need volunteers including Membership, Legislative, Public Relations, Ombudsman, and Fundraising.