Great American Clean-Up on the Tennessee River
Communities and organizations up and down the Tennessee River will be hosting river events during the 2020 Great American Clean-Up, which runs from March 19 through the end of June. This event is the largest organized community improvement event in the nation, serving towns, parks, and now rivers. We are proud that our river has the first river based KAB affiliate, Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful in the US.
The Tennessee River Valley watershed is made up of forty six reservoirs and thousands of miles of shorelines, streams, and rivers. From headwaters to tailwaters, keeping the waterways healthy and free of unsightly litter takes a huge volunteer effort. The net impact of these efforts is protecting the habitats of native species, while enhancing recreational opportunities on the river for locals and visitors.
Want to get involved in a waterway clean-up? There are many events already scheduled needing volunteers:
Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful: Each year, the non-profit organization partners with Living Lands and Waters to host a “Grand Slam Clean Up.” This year, events are scheduled for Pickwick Lake, Kentucky Lake at Land Between the Lakes, Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, TN and the Clinch River in Oak Ridge.
Keep Athens-Limestone (AL) Beautiful annually hosts a Trash Attack and Waterway Clean-up to help keep the shorelines of the Tennessee and Elk Rivers clean, along with the roadways. Blowing trash from roadways is one of the largest contributors to waterway trash issues. Athens-Limestone litter coordinator, Lynne invites paddlers to experience the beauty of their blueways and to help the organization by practicing Leave No Trace principles while on the river and at the boat launches.
Keep Cocke County (TN) Beautiful was well represented at the State of Tennessee kick-off for the Great American Clean-up. Cocke County’s Sheriff Armando Fontes provided the keynote speech to the Tennessee KAB affiliates. Sheriff Fontes’s presentation included the 3 “e’s” of litter prevention- Engage, Educate, and Enforce. Keep Cocke County Beautiful will be working on both Douglas Lake and the Pigeon River in March and April respectively.
Sometimes groups come together organically. Two examples are the Cherokee Lake Users Group and the Norris Lake Project. Both of these organizations are grass roots organizations that bring together volunteers who are invested in caring for their lakes. Each group have events scheduled in March.
Of course, the other 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.
If you live, play, or work along the river, you already know that trash has a negative impact on the beauty of that community. Be a voluntourist. Explore, Engage, Act. #DoBeautifulThings. #TVAFun.
Peaches and Carp- Southern Invaders
What do carp, Kudzu, and peach trees all have in common? They are all invasive species that have crowded out native species in America’s southeast creating economic and ecological impacts.
Beginning with the early pioneers and explorers, well-meaning people have introduced invasives that have slowly changed ecological habitats of the Tennessee River watershed’s plants, animals, and vertebra. It was Spanish Explorer, Hernando Desoto who introduced peaches, one of the first non-native trees to the South which quickly naturalized. While peaches have not created an ecological crisis, other noxious plants introduced for landscaping and erosion have had deleterious impacts.
Notorious for overwhelming native habitats, Kudzu and privet are two noxious plants that have crowded out native plants across the Tennessee River Valley. The choking effect of the spread of these plants not only impacts the visual landscape but that of the habitats of birds and animals. The rapid growth of kudzu can quickly kill trees and shrubs due to the heavy shading that occurs as the plant wraps around larger plants. Introduced by state and federal agencies to stop top soil erosion, the inadvertent net effect was naturalizing a plant that spreads rapidly, kills native plants, and is almost impossible to eradicate. Similarly, privet out competes native plants for nutrients. Introduced as an ornamental landscaping shrub, privet invaded forest riparian space, shading forest floors and crowding out propagation of native species. The net result was a less diverse landscape of trees and shrubs that are critical habitat for birds and small animals.
Equally notorious are the bad guys of the waterways, zebra mussels and Asian carp. Their voracious feeding is disrupting fisheries on the Ohio, Mississippi and most recently, the Tennessee River. With few natural predators, the populations of both have crowded negatively impacting sport and commercial fishing.
To help prevent the spread of invasives in the Tennessee River Valley:
- Boats: Drain your motor, live well, and bilge on land before leaving the area. Power wash your boat and allow to dry before launching in another body of water.
- Fish using native baits
- Don’t carry in firewood from other locations.
- Camping gear: Sweep tents of debris. Clean your tarps and other equipment of dirt and leaves.
- Talk to local nurseries before selecting landscape plants.
- Report observation of invasives.
- Participate in an event to help remove invasives.
A Sense of Place and Geotourism
Early Native Americans respected the land, water, and forests with a reverence and respect that is inherent in geotourism principles. In the Tennessee River Valley, geotourism is at the heart of preserving and protecting the rich assets of the region. Today, geotourism thought leaders also know that sustainability and “sense of place” challenge leaders in vulnerable rural communities to vision in holistic ways that are not solely focused on short term economic gains.
Rural Challenges:
The TRV Stewardship Council is well versed on the struggle for rural communities to protect their cultural identities as the outward migration of young people leaves a vacuum of future vision and leadership. Data shows that the impact widens the economic gap between urban centers and rural centers. However, the southern Appalachians have experienced in-migration from retirees and individuals seeking scenic and/or recreation lifestyle amenities. The benefit of the in-migration is that property values increase without an increase demand on community services such as schools. But in-migration can also detract from the sense of place as newcomers repopulate small communities and bring new stories that can dilute the authenticity of that place’s heritage.
Opportunity Geotourism:
Recognizing the importance of preserving the identity of the region, the Council launched five cultural/heritage trip plans that were designed using Geotourism Principles: 3- Market Selectively or seek tourist segments with the best cost/benefit ratio, and 5- Insure Visitor Satisfaction by providing authentic experiences that will increase demand for the destination. Principle 3 is not mass marketing. It is attracting visitors who are most likely to appreciate the authenticity of place. The trip plans were launched at the TravelSouth International Showcase held in St. Louis. The three partners represented the geographic footprint of the ExploreTRV mapguide and were matched with writers and international tour guides who are interested in cultural or heritage experiences. The three day event provided an opportunity to educate the international community about the history and heritage of the Valley. The feedback from the attendees was positive and supported geotourism as an opportunity for rural communities who are willing to invest in preserving a “sense of place.”
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