Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful (KTNRB) is seeking volunteers for four cleanups beginning October 14, 2023, that will be held in three states during October, which is celebrated as ‘Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful Month presented by the Tennessee Valley Authority.’

The big deal this year: volunteers will be aiming to help KTNRB surpass 600,000 lbs. of trash removed since forming. The nonprofit began in 2016 and was removing a little over 10,000 lbs. of trash a year until introducing its first boat to the water in 2019. Since then, annual trash totals have grown substantially and now with a fleet of two boats, KTNRB has already set a new record in 2023 with 153,909 lbs. of trash removed so far this year.

Volunteers will be taken out on five 30-foot john boats to clean shorelines identified with large deposits of litter. Each of the four cleanups will take place in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama within the Tennessee River watershed.

“This river system is one of the most beautiful and biodiverse rivers in North America, and it’s always inspiring to see how many people come out during this month of celebrating the Tennessee River watershed,” said Kathleen Gibi, KTNRB Executive Director. “We’re grateful for the continued support from TVA, whose administration challenged us to begin hosting the river celebration that only keeps growing each year!”

The month will also include proclamations from governors and mayors across the Tennessee River watershed and KTNRB challenged its network of nearly 200 river mile adoptees to host their own river cleanups during the month. Additionally, those who are unable to participate in a cleanup can still help protect the Tennessee River by taking a pledge in KTNRB’s #Pledge4Rivers campaign.

“Powerful partnerships, like the one TVA has with KTNRB, help us achieve far more than any of us could ever do individually,” said Rachel Terrell, TVA Manager of Public Outreach & Support. "All those miles of beautiful public lands and waterways belong to all of us. That’s why it’s so important to not only do what we can to keep them clean, but to try to prevent abuse of the land and water, and to educate residents and visitors about the importance of this mission. We work every day to protect the Tennessee River watershed, which supports one of the most biodiverse collections of species in the world.”

RIVER CLEANUP SCHEDULE

KTNRB is partnering once again with Living Lands & Waters (LL&W), a national nonprofit based in Moline, Ill. that cleans North American rivers and who will bring three of their 30-foot aluminum boats to the cleanups on Pickwick and Wheeler lakes, adding to KTNRB’s two boats so that even more volunteers can participate. KTNRB has also contracted Allegheny CleanWays, a river cleanup group in Pittsburgh, Pa. to bring their boat to the cleanups on Norris and Cherokee lakes.

The cleanups during Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful Month are scheduled as follows:

Volunteers may register for any cleanup at www.KeepTNRiverBeautiful.org/upcomingcleanups.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Nobody Trashes Tennessee also helps to support this month of celebration through its litter grant.

HISTORY OF CELEBRATING KTNRWB MONTH

Gibi said that it was the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), that originally challenged KTNRB to celebrate an awareness month for the Tennessee River. The awareness month was launched in the state of Tennessee in 2018 and has now expanded into a seven-state awareness campaign in 2023.

Dozens of proclamations from governors and mayors within the Tennessee River watershed have been proclaimed over the years. Last year, four governors and four mayors issued proclamations for Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful Month.

After Living Lands & Waters worked hosted the Tennessee River Tour in 2015, TVA and Keep Tennessee Beautiful (funded by the Tennessee Dept. of Transportation) founded the formation of KTNRB as a nonprofit that would champion support and protection for the 652-mile Tennessee River and its tributaries. Since forming, KTNRB has rallied nearly 4,000 volunteers and is expected to surpass 600,000 lbs. of trash removed from the Tennessee River watershed this October.

As KTRWB Month is celebrated in different states, KTNRB collaborates with affiliates from Keep Tennessee Beautiful, Keep Mississippi Beautiful, and Keep Alabama Beautiful.

“We love celebrating this month because it brings individuals, groups, organizations, elected officials, and even international companies together in prioritizing our precious river,” said Gibi. “Our slogan is ‘Your River. Your Impact.’ and it’s true—when it comes to our waterways, you get what you give, so it’s inspiring to see so many taking the right steps.”

For more information on Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful Month presented by TVA, visit www.KeepTNRiverBeautiful.org/ktnrwb-month.