Page 24 - NovDec2023 Vol41 No5

KEEP THE TENNESSEE RIVER BEAUTIFUL By Kathleen Gibi
Cherokee National Forest Cleanup

A collective 66 volunteers removed Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful Executive Director. “We’re so grateful to
13,137 lbs. of trash (6.6 tons) from four (KTNRB) established the Cherokee Oris, additional sponsors and partners,
different rivers in Keep the Tennessee National Forest River Cleanup Series to and especially the volunteers for making
River Beautiful’s 3rd annual Cherokee help preserve lakes in the Tennessee’s this series such as success.”
National Forest River Cleanup Series, largest tract of public land, showcasing KTNRB hosted four river cleanups
presented by Oris Watches. the vastness of the forest by hosting in February 2023, and a rainchecked
Since the series began in 2001, a total river cleanups spanning from South cleanup wrapping up the series on
of 166 volunteers have helped remove Holston Lake in Abingdon, Va. to Sunday, Sept. 10, collaborating with
44,870 lbs. of trash from waterways in Parksville Lake near Chattanooga, Tenn. local Keep America Beautiful affiliates
the Cherokee National Forest. “The lakes within the Cherokee and local governments:
The most recent series total has the National Forest are some of the most
river cleanup nonprofit staged to surpass stunning among the bodies of water in CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST
2021, its record-breaking year, in which within the Tennessee River watershed RIVER CLEANUP SERIES RESULTS
more than 700 volunteers removed over and it’s always a privilege to showcase • Feb. 5: Watauga Lake of the Watauga
152,000 lbs. of trash. So far in 2023, the their stunning beauty as well as the need River, Elizabethton, TN – 4,616 lbs. 24
group has already rallied 725 volunteers to address litter that has entered their volunteers
to remove 149,320 lbs. of trash from the waterways,” said Kathleen Gibi, Keep • Feb. 19: Tellico Lake of the Little
Tennessee River watershed. the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTNRB) Tennessee River, Vonore, TN – 5,509

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