By John Hubbard
Close to 30 years ago, a group of environmentalists decided enough was enough. Disgusted by the trash lining the Tennessee River, they started a grassroots effort to make a difference in the Scenic City. Each year volunteers help protect our source of drinking water during Tennessee River Rescue. Hundreds of people fan out across 20 zones in Bradley, Hamilton and Marion counties to clean up the banks of the Tennessee River and some tributaries. Tons of tires, plastic bottles and other trash have been removed by these eco-warriors over the years.
TVCC is sponsoring two cleanup sites – South Chickamauga Creek and Lookout Creek. Mark your calendar and come help from 9am to 1pm on Saturday, October 7th.
Pat Carver and Greg Foster are coordinating the Lookout Creek cleanup in partnership with Martha at Reflection Riding. The section we are cleaning up is from Reflection Riding downstream to the Cummings Highway bridge. We will also have land cleanup at the bridge access location. Meet at Reflection Riding to start the cleanup. Bring your own boat. We will have eight canoes that can be reserved by calling Pat at 423-304-6519 or email Martha at volunteer@reflectionriding.org. For questions, contact Pat. Directions to Reflection Riding is below. Text Pat that you are coming.
Michelle Hollingsworth, John Hubbard, and Ben Johnson are coordinating the South Chickamauga Creek cleanup. The section we are cleaning up is from the Lightfoot Mill access downstream to the Sterchi Farms access ramp. We will also have land cleanup at the Lightfoot Mill access. Meet at the Sterchi Farms access. Bring your own boat. We will have only two canoes that can be reserved by calling Michelle at 423-305-5695 or email m_hollingsworth83@hotmail.com. For questions, contact Michelle. Directions to the Sterchi Farm access is below.Text Michelle that you are coming.
Wear your older clothes and expect to get a bit dirty. Gloves and bags will be provided. We expect to have t-shirts for all who come and help. Bring a water bottle. We will have water to refill bottles.
Don’t have a boat? Come anyway and help with the land cleanup at the two creek access places. Join the fun.
Go to tennesseeriverrescue.org to see the latest information for this year. This picture of Ben Johnson and family in a canoe at South Chickamauga Creek from the cleanup last year. Other club members are behind them with their trash picked up from the creek.
Directions to Reflection Riding Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37419: Take Cummings Hwy west past Lookout Mountain. Then left onto Rt 318, Old Wahautchie Pike. Very quickly, take right fork on to Garden Rd and go to Reflection Riding.
Directions to Sterchi Farms minipark access: It is at GPS Coordinates 35.084026,-85.226784. Take Campbell St going north that becomes Bonney Oaks going north. From Bonney Oaks, turn left onto Addison Rd at stoplight. Then right onto Harrison Pike Rd and go to Sterchi Farms access just before the bridge.
TVCC has participated in the Tennessee River Rescue for close to 20 years and every year for the past five. Join us again this year and Help keep our rivers clean.