In a concerted effort to rejuvenate the Nolichucky River, dedicated restoration teams and volunteers convened with state and local dignitaries in Greene County, Tennessee, on Saturday for a significant cleanup operation.

The gathering took place in Afton, where Tusculum Mayor Alan Corely, Town of Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty, and State Representative David Hawk addressed participants to officially launch the event. Their presence underscored the importance of community involvement in environmental preservation.

A diverse array of local organizations, including Keep Greene Beautiful, the Nolichucky Restoration Project, and the Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association, took part in this vital initiative. Their efforts were bolstered by larger entities such as Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful and USA Rafts, all united in their mission to restore the river to its natural splendor.

Kathleen Gibi, the executive director of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, highlighted the impact of their ongoing efforts, noting that the organization, supported by over 5,000 volunteers, recently achieved the milestone of removing its millionth piece of trash from the river.

“The spirit of this community is truly inspiring,” Gibi remarked. “As an outside organization, witnessing the drive and dedication here is remarkable. We have an incredibly strong network, and I’m proud to collaborate with them. The state has already cleared much of the larger debris, so now volunteers are focusing on the smaller pieces. We are thrilled to see the shorelines finally being cleaned up.”

Gibi said being mindful of litter can go a long way toward improving Tennessee’s waterways.

“You can just walk by and see litter and pick it up anytime you see litter anywhere, even if you don’t see water nearby, it’s the next rain. We’ll put that litter into our river system through storm drains. That’s the way it’s supposed to work. The water has to travel to the river. So, when you’re picking up litter in a parking lot, and you’re picking it up from the river, essentially. So, that’s really how you can make a difference.”

Not only do fish and the environment rely on clean waterways, but the state’s economy is also directly affected, according to Gibi.

“The Tennessee River generates $12 billion just in the recreation industry alone. So when you have a community that relies on outdoor eco tourism, when we’re helping to protect these natural assets, we’re helping to protect local jobs and local economy as well.”

Gibi mentioned that East Tennessee offers “incredible views” in the Smoky Mountains, many of which are along rivers or creeks. She said she considers this combination to be the region’s “best kept secret.”

Saturday’s cleanup was just one of the hundreds that have occurred and will continue to be necessary following Hurricane Helene, which filled Tennessee’s waterways with debris when it made landfall in September 2024.