Gainesville and Hall County are looking to partner on purchasing a litter trap for Flat Creek, one of the most polluted streams in the region, in an effort to improve water quality and spare Lake Lanier a growing mess. “It’s just incredible the volume of trash that comes into Lake Lanier” from Flat Creek, said Gainesville Water Resources Director Kelly Randall, “particularly after a large rainfall.” The 6-mile tributary courses through the city’s industrial area, past several poultry processing plants and residential neighborhoods on its way to a Lanier cove west of McEver Road.