The Tennessee River is due for an annual spring cleaning this weekend. Keep Tennessee Rivers Beautiful is partnering with Land Between The Lakes to provide volunteers with boats and trash bags to pick up litter and debris along the banks. Coordinator Laura Howard said the project was born from TVA partnering with Keep Tennessee Beautiful after a river tour discovered an excess of trash along the shore and in the water. Howard said the clean-ups help the environment and impact tourism.
“Especially in LBL, you have such a beautiful area. So we know that if we can keep our river clean, it’s going to improve the quality of life but also increase tourism and recreation.” Howard said.
Nearly 200 volunteers cleaned-up 18,372 pounds of debris from the Tennessee River in the inaugural effort last year. Groups meet at Paris Landing State Park Inn at noon Saturday and the Fenton Campground in LBL at 9:30 Sunday morning. Officials ask volunteers to register in advance.
You can register for the two remaining clean-up events here.