Knoxville TN, October 7, 2025
News Summary
Knoxville has declared a major milestone in environmental efforts as volunteers prepare to remove 1 million pounds of trash from the Tennessee River watershed. This initiative, part of the 8th annual ‘Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful Month,’ has seen over 5,000 volunteers participating. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee recognized the cleanup month at a press conference, emphasizing the combined efforts that have spanned a decade since the inception of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.
Knoxville has declared a significant milestone in its environmental efforts, announcing that volunteers will remove a total of 1 million pounds of trash from the Tennessee River watershed this month during the 8th annual ‘Keep the Tennessee River Watershed Beautiful Month®’ presented by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Over 5,000 volunteers have participated in various cleanup initiatives, which also mark ten years since the initial Tennessee River Tour led to the establishment of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.
The announcement was made at a press conference attended by Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, both of whom issued proclamations to officially recognize the cleanup month. Additional proclamations from municipal and state leaders from surrounding areas across the Tennessee River watershed are expected as part of the initiative.
In 2015, the Tennessee River Tour was spearheaded by Living Lands & Waters, a national nonprofit dedicated to cleaning waterways across the United States. The tour was originally proposed by the City of Knoxville, which invited the organization to aid in removing litter from the river. The first organized cleanup effort on the Tennessee River, known as the Ijams River Rescue, was also launched by Ijams Nature Center.
Mayor Kincannon commemorated the achievement as a reflection of ten years of committed efforts stemming from Knoxville. The campaign commemorating the cleanup month has been financed by TVA and Keep Tennessee Beautiful, utilizing funds provided by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
During this month, KTnRB is orchestrating various cleanup events at multiple locations within the watershed. This includes using two 26-foot work boats and three additional boats supplied by Living Lands & Waters to facilitate these efforts. Scheduled cleanup activities include:
- October 1: Fort Loudoun Lake in Knoxville, Concord, and Louisville, TN
- October 7: Chickamauga Lake cleanup with TDOT Region 2 employees
- October 11: Pickwick Lake in Iuka, MS/Counce, TN
- October 12: Kentucky Lake in Golden Pond, KY/Dover, TN
- October 18: Nickajack Lake in Jasper, TN with Living Lands & Waters
- October 19: Guntersville Lake in Guntersville, AL with Living Lands & Waters
- October 24: Chatuge Lake in Hayesville, NC/Young Harris, GA
- October 28: South Holston Lake in Abingdon, VA
KTnRB has also encouraged its 253 river mile adoptees to organize their own cleanup events throughout the month. Additionally, the organization is advocating for the Adopt a Storm Drain program to boost awareness concerning how litter impacts local waterways. Those unable to participate in the cleanup events can still contribute by signing a pledge as part of KTnRB’s #Pledge4Rivers campaign.
Originally initiated by TVA in 2018 to celebrate the Tennessee River, this awareness month has since evolved into a broader campaign spanning seven states. In previous years, numerous proclamations have been issued by local officials across the watershed area to support these initiatives. Immediately following the press conference, a cleanup event was conducted at five locations on Fort Loudoun Lake, showcasing the ongoing collaboration between Knoxville partners.
For additional information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, individuals are encouraged to visit the KTnRB website.
FAQ
What is the milestone achieved during the month of October?
Volunteers will reach the milestone of 1 million pounds of trash removed from the Tennessee River watershed this month.
How many volunteers have participated in the cleanup efforts?
Over 5,000 volunteers participated in the cleanup efforts.
Who presented the proclamations to declare the cleanup month?
Proclamations were made by Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.
What does the cleanup month celebrate?
This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the 2015 Tennessee River Tour, which led to the creation of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.
Key Features of the Cleanup Month
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Milestone Achieved | 1 million pounds of trash removed |
| Volunteers | Over 5,000 participating volunteers |
| Proclamations | Declared by local officials across the watershed |
| Cleanup Events Scheduled | Multiple cleanup locations across seven states |
| Funding Source | Tennessee Valley Authority and TDOT funds |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Additional Resources
- Knox News: Knoxville Homes for Sale
- WBIR: Efforts to Keep Tennessee River Clean
- WBBJ: 1 Million lbs of Trash Removed from Tennessee River
- Wikipedia: Tennessee River
- WATE: Unidentified Body Pulled from Tennessee River
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
