Peachtree Corners' Green Committee Wins 2015 Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Award

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA, July 2, 2015 – The city’s Green Committee, formed in 2014, is the proud winner of this year’s Great American Cleanup-Gwinnett Challenge’s “Do A Water Walk” award.

The top honor was awarded to the group which spent 24 man hours assessing the habitat of a portion of Crooked Creek to determine the stream’s overall health. The award also came with a $500 cash prize, which will be used to implement one of the committee’s future projects.

The Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful category, new this year, was created to recognize the importance of clean waterways and streams. “This year the emphasis was on water because it’s such a precious commodity,” said Connie Wiggins, Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful.

Headed by Green Committee member, Bob Howard, the group had specific parameters for completing the complex survey which measured such items as water quality, water supply and habitat health.

Armed with a clipboard with the survey and survey forms, measuring tape, digital camera, calculator and other items, the group of eight residents headed out on foot on a recent Saturday to determine the health of the creek that meanders throughout much of the city.

Their journey began at the Technology Park lake which is the headwater for the stream and is located behind a number of office buildings on Technology Parkway. Their 1/3 mile trek ended on the other side of S.R. 141 after the group passed under the road through one of the two large culverts located underneath the road.

The outcome – the portion of Crooked Creek that was examined is healthy with no evidence of pollution and little runoff. “It’s in pretty good shape,” said Howard, who also works for the Environmental Protection Agency. “There was some sediment coming into the stream,” added Howard. Runoff from the nearby parking lots was the likely cause he said but was not significant to the overall health of the creek.

Debbie Mason was in the group that donned boots and headed out from the lake’s earthen dam and followed the stream’s path. “I was in awe of the natural beauty,” said Mason. “It’s a resource you don’t even think of - Peachtree Corners is fortunate to have such a wonderful creek running right through the city.”

Wiggins said the winner of the “Do a Water Walk” category was determined by a panel of judges who reviewed the entries using a set of strict criteria. “We wanted to increase people’s awareness, to look at conditions of our water and identify ways to improve the quality,” said Wiggins.

The water walk made such an impact on the initial group that plans are being considered for a second trip said Howard.