Mark Wilson discovered the Yellow River about the same time he discovered the joy of kayaking. It didn’t take long for the artery to become his favorite go-to for paddling and exploring nature. Now retired, the 30-year Lilburn resident and Barbara, his wife of 39 years, enjoy paddling and exploring rivers and lakes throughout the Southeast.
The Yellow River runs 50 mostly navigable miles through four counties to Lake Jackson. It stretches from suburban Gwinnett County to the south, through portions of DeKalb, Rockdale, and Newton Counties.
Wilson has “adopted” the Yellow River as a caretaker of sorts. He conducts water tests monthly at several sites on the Yellow River in Gwinnett and Dekalb counties as part of Georgia Adopt A Stream. He leads paddle trips on the river, too, and often hears from participants who had no knowledge the tributary exists.
“Everyone comes away with the experience saying, ‘wow,” said Wilson, a retired IT Project Manager. “The Yellow River is clean, with little litter, mostly plastic bottles, some sports balls, and plastic bags.”
Earlier this year, Wilson was honored by the Georgia Water Coalition for his efforts of nearly two decades to preserve and protect the river. He was named to the Georgia Water Coalition’s Clean 13.
Because of that, he is our August Citizen of the Month.
The Air Force veteran, who moved to Gwinnett County in 1993, is chairman of the Yellow River Water Trail, one of 39 Georgia Water Trails certified by the Georgia River Network. He’s also a board member of the Georgia Canoeing Association and the Georgia River Network.
“I have high hopes for our area,” Wilson said. “Two new parks are planned on the river, a pocket park near Lake Lucerne and the first section of a Yellow River Greenway walking trail. It may take a decade or two to build out, but residents of Lilburn and South Gwinnett have a lot to look forward to as it relates to outdoor recreational activities.”
