Riverkeeper removes 1.4K pounds of trash from Wheeler Lake of the Tennessee River

On Saturday, April 12, the Tennessee Riverkeeper and Joe Wheeler State Park teamed up to remove approximately 1,419 pounds of trash from Wheeler Lake of the Tennessee River.

Volunteers cleaned up remote shorelines of the Tennessee River accessing them by pontoon boat.

The Tennessee River and its tributaries are often collection zones for litter, according to the Riverkeeper. Litter that flies out of garbage trucks or gets thrown out on bridges and streets will frequently flow into creeks and rivers after rain events via drainage systems.  

In 2019, Tennessee Riverkeeper launched a microplastics campaign to remove plastic and other litter from waterways, while educating the public about this pollution threat. 

The most common items of trash found are:

• Polystyrene (styrofoam)
• Polyethylene (plastic bottles and shopping bags)
• Polypropylene (straws)

Plastic pollution is a serious problem

“There is no easy solution to plastic pollution.” 

 “Scientists working with National Geographic documented that the Tennessee River is polluted by as many as 16,000 to 18,000 microplastic particles per cubic meter.  This pollution occurs when larger plastics break down over time. Experts think that they can last for hundreds of years, and toxicity can ‘biomagnify’ as microplastics build up in the food chain.”

David Whiteside, Founder and Director of Tennessee Riverkeeper

Cleanups organized by Tennessee Riverkeeper have prevented more than 67,000 pounds of litter from entering our waterways.

“Joe Wheeler State Park is 2,550 acres and home to 250 different species of fish and an abundance of other native plants and animals. We appreciate Tennessee Riverkeeper’s efforts to keep our waterways clean for humans and wildlife.”

Jennings Earnest, Naturalist for Joe Wheeler State Park

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