The channel between Fountain and Albert Lea lakes will be the focus of a cleanup project on Saturday sponsored by the Fountain Lake Sportsmen’s Club and other community volunteers.

People wishing to participate are asked to meet at Frank Hall Park just prior to 9 a.m. Buckets and bags will be provided for trash collection.

“It is meant to be a community effort to celebrate and contribute to the beauty of the lakeshores in our area,” said one organizer, Laura Lunde.

Lunde said an annual lakes cleanup has taken place in some form since 1934.

Last year, she said, volunteers collected a large roll-off Dumpster full of trash, including dozens of bicycle frames, spring mattress frames, copper wire, tires, cans, bottles, shopping bags and other pieces of liter.

“This type of lake cleanup makes the shoreline of our lakes clean and inviting to residents and visitors of our community,” she said. “It also helps encourage a mindset of cleanliness for individuals who spend recreational time on or near our lakes.”

She said the goal is to get volunteers interested in being stewards of their own community lakes, as well as lakes they are visiting.

“Keeping our shores and lakes clean is everyone’s responsibility,” she added. “It takes the efforts of many volunteers, community and government organizations to achieve the type of results we are looking for in lake clarity. The task can seem monumental if you let it, but in all reality one single person who picks up an aluminum can to prevent it from ending up in the lake is making a vast difference.”

Waste Management will provide a Dumpster for the event, and small boat owners are encouraged to bring their watercraft to collect items that are partially submerged or unreachable from shore. Albert Lea Community Education is also donating six canoes that will be used for the event.

Volunteers will reconvene at the Dumpster at noon to total the trash items collected. Water will be provided for participants.