Page 24 - Mar-Apr2023 Vol40 No7

KEEP TENNESSEE RIVER BEAUTIFUL By Clay McCammon
Volunteers Remove 3,683 Lbs. Trash

The fish are swimming in cleaner to heart. They offered a barrel fire and Visit Knoxville estimated the 2022 event
waters after Duncan Boat Dock helped worked with the local Keoke Coffee Bar generated $32.2 million in revenue and
clean up the Tennessee River to kick off food truck to help keep volunteers warm had a record-breaking attendance of
the year. on the cold day. 153,809 people. The area cleaned by the
As part of their Adopt A River Mile Participants explored a nearby island volunteers in January is an area that will
participation, the marina’s owners, Mike and riverbank. They even spotted a be seen by numerous participants and
and Pam Duncan, partnered with Keep young bald eagle, still brown with its spectators, improving and representing
the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTNRB) juvenile feathers, lacking the distinctive the beauty of the Tennessee River.
for the nonprofit’s first river cleanup of white head synonymous with our Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful is
2023. Launching from the marina, the national bird. a 501c3 nonprofit and is the first Keep
extremely successful cleanup consisted Volunteers collected a wide array America Beautiful affiliate to focus solely
of 25 volunteers who removed a of items from the river including 88 on a river. In 2022, KTNRB volunteers
whopping 3,683 lbs. of trash from Fort bags of general litter, three steel drums, removed 105,000 lbs. of trash from the
Loudoun Lake. three coolers, 221 lbs. of miscellaneous seven-state Tennessee River Watershed.
KTNRB supported the event by plastic, six buckets, a tackle box, eight From the time the nonprofit formed in
bringing their 26 ft. john boat to lbs. of scrap metal, 70 lbs. of boat 2016, volunteers have helped to remove
ferry volunteers to cleanup sites (and parts, a Harley Davidson helmet, pool 439,286 lbs. of trash.
ultimately haul back the trash collected.) floats, a massive lake float, and 31 tires, For more information about Keep the
Duncan Boat Dock has adopted the (including three semi tires.) Tennessee River Beautiful’s river cleanups
River Mile 635 on the Tennessee River The cleanup area will be utilized in or the Adopt a River Mile program, visit
and has truly taken their cleanup efforts the upcoming BassMaster Classic event. www.keeptnriverbeautiful.com.

24 TPW March/April 2023