Tennessee RiverLine Partners with WaterWays for Tennessee River Rescue 2024

News

Thursday, 03 October 2024 09:49

Annual River Cleanup Expands to Northern Alabama, Engaging New Communities in Conservation Efforts Along the Tennessee River  WHO:
Tennessee RiverLine and WaterWays, the organizing body behind the Tennessee River Rescue, are expanding their collaborative efforts into Northern Alabama by inviting Tennessee RiverLine RiverTowns communities to participate in this impactful event.

WHAT:
The Tennessee River Rescue is an annual cleanup event that gathers volunteers along the Tennessee River and its tributaries to clear litter and promote environmental stewardship. In 2023, more than 1,000 volunteers removed 12 tons of trash, raised awareness about litter pollution, and made a measurable difference in preserving the river.

This year, Tennessee RiverLine is partnering with WaterWays to advance its mission of connecting communities to the Tennessee River and promoting stewardship by engaging new towns in Northern Alabama, extending the event’s reach and impact.

WHEN:
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024
Time varies by location (details available on the Tennessee River Rescue website)

WHERE:
Various locations throughout the Tennessee River watershed, including the newly added cleanup zones in Northern Alabama’s RiverTowns communities. Participating RiverTowns include:

• South Pittsburg, Tenn. (Shellmound RV Resort & Campground)
• Bridgeport, Ala. (Bridgeport River Park)
• Jackson County, Ala. (Bridgeport River Park)
• Guntersville, Ala. (Honeycomb Causeway)

 

WHY:
The Tennessee River Rescue aligns with Tennessee RiverLine’s stewardship efforts along the river. Expanding the event into Northern Alabama increases the impact on reducing litter pollution and raising awareness about the critical need for conservation efforts.

BACKGROUND:
For more than 35 years, the Tennessee River Rescue has inspired local residents to take action in protecting the Tennessee River and its watershed. This year’s event continues to spotlight the critical need for litter reduction as part of WaterWays’ new “Trash Free Tomorrow” initiative, which focuses on reducing plastic and other pollutants that degrade the river and its tributaries.

The Tennessee RiverLine is a continuous system of outdoor recreation experiences spanning 1.2 million acres along the 652-mile Tennessee River, connecting communities across four states. At the heart of Tennessee RiverLine is the RiverTowns program, which empowers local communities along the river to foster stewardship, promote public health, drive sustainable economic development and ensure equitable access to outdoor recreation through civic engagement. By involving these RiverTowns in the Tennessee River Rescue, the partnership amplifies the shared mission of both organizations to preserve the river’s health and beauty for future generations.

This partnership expands the reach of the Tennessee River Rescue, making it a larger-scale event that now includes Northern Alabama communities, furthering the collective impact on reducing litter and promoting environmental awareness. By engaging more volunteers and communities in the RiverTowns program, this collaborative effort enhances the capacity to protect the Tennessee River while educating the public on the importance of keeping our waterways clean. Together, Tennessee RiverLine and WaterWays are not only removing tons of trash but also fostering a culture of stewardship along one of the nation’s most vital waterways.

For more information, please visit www.tennesseeriverrescue.org. ***Please note, some sites may require additional accommodations due to flooding brought by Hurricane Helene, so please check preferred site on River Rescue day.