Earth Day 2022 Spring Clean-Up Activities Kick Off Early in the Tennessee Valley

Keeping the rivers and reservoirs of the Tennessee Valley is a mission of many grassroot organizations.  Each spring, volunteers take to the shorelines and waterways to remove trash that would otherwise continue its journey downriver to the sea.

The winter lake pool months of March and April make it easier for volunteers to walk the banks to collect trash and large items that the summer pool and winter rain events deposit along the shorelines.    

To take advantage optimal lake pool conditions, “spring cleaning” season has officially begun in the Tennessee Valley. In late March, the Cherokee Lake Users Group, Norris Lake Project, Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, and other groups have volunteered thousands of hours to serve on the waterways of the Tennessee Valley.

Of course, the quiet hero of the Tennessee River is TVA. Charged with a mission in 1933 to be good stewards of the lands and waters entrusted to them, TVA has been a tireless partner with grassroots organizations such as the above listed projects across the Valley.  Without their generous support, the capacity of these groups would be lessened.

While Earth Day is an annual national event, the work of these grassroot organizations is done year-round.  What is most compelling is the story of the individuals who donate their time to serve locally.  On an event morning when the volunteers gather, the resulting teams represents a wide range of interests and ages.  Some are conservationists; some are sportsmen; some are homeowners living in the watershed; some are business owners, and many are students seeking service hours.  What is common to the group is an interest in serving to protect our valuable waterways.

At the end of a day, the camaraderie that is built among these diverse participants is a powerful reminder of the impact of shared experiences in building bridges to understanding.  

In honor of Earth Day 2022, “invest” in a local group to volunteer with year-round.