On Monday, the West Point Lake Coalition partnered with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper to take part in a section of Relay Down the Hooch, a 435-mile relay down the Chattahoochee River. 

The coalition serves as a nonprofit organizations to promote, protect and maintain the beauty of West Point Lake. 

The relay highlighted specific sections of the Chattahoochee and brought to light good things that communities are doing to help keep it clean, safe and fun for locals. All too often West Point Lake gets a bad reputation, mainly due to the state of the water decades ago. 

Admittedly, there is too much trash on the lake, a problem local leaders and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to focus on, but it’s also a body of water to be proud of. The lake brings in thousands of visitors each year, and it’s one of the many reasons people see LaGrange and Troup County as an area with potential to grow. 

The coalition and Riverkeeper have worked hand-in-hand for years to secure grants and support from local governments and businesses to promote West Point Lake. Not only do the two partner together to fight for funding and promoting of the lake, but  they also help keep water levels and water quality in check through constant monitoring. 

The community can help the coalition and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper by not littering and educating themselves about the lake. 

It’s arguably our area’s most important resource.