"Paddlin' the Nolichucky," a two-week river monitoring, education, and outreach trip that started in Spruce Pine, N.C., will be in Greene County this weekend for "Riverfest."

About 10 a.m. on Saturday, the canoeists and kayakers are scheduled to arrive at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park to kick off the "RiverFest" celebration.

Anyone wishing to join the paddlers upstream is welcome, said Paul Hayden, executive director of the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance. The best place to put in is Corby Bridge on Corby Bridge Road in Washington County, early Saturday morning.

This 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. event will include a huge variety of demonstrations, many of them related to the river's fish and other aquatic life.

A "shocking" demonstration -- "shocking" because a small amount of electricity is used, and also "shocking" because it often shows brightly-colored fish that most people never see -- will be used to collect and identify living things in the river. This event is intended for children.

Other informational aspects of the event will cover stormwater management, how to make a home "rain barrel," the Adopt-a-Stream program, and other environmental concerns.

Those attending can learn what exactly is a "watershed," and what is "gray water." In a nutshell, gray water is water from the bathtub, shower and sinks, but not toilets. Using gray water instead of drinking water can save money and water.

RiverFest will also offer, food, fun, and craft vendors.

Local artisans will be displaying skills that were prevalent during Davy Crockett's childhood on what was then America's frontier.

Organizations participating will include the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and several soil conservation districts and Watershed Alliances projects in the Nolichucky River valley.

The boat trip began last Saturday at Riverside Park on the North Toe River in Spruce Pine, and will end, if all goes well, at the mouth of French Broad River near Newport, 140 miles downstream, according to organizers.

The Toe and Cane rivers in North Carolina unite to form the Nolichucky River. The Nolichucky itself merges with the French Broad, which joins with the Holston River to form the Tennessee River near Knoxville.

This trip is designed to monitor the water quality of the river, but to also educate the public about the Nolichucky River and to point out that the river has potential to be a world-class recreation destination, said Hartwell Carson, of Asheville, N.C., a spokesman for French Broad Riverkeeper, a group that works to promote and protect America's rivers.

On Tuesday, the paddlers, many of whom are members of Riverkeeper, took part in a rafting/paddling film festival along the Nolichucky Gorge in Unicoi County.

After RiverFest, the paddlers will continue downstream. On Thursday, June 4, from 4 to 7, "Conservation on the River" will take place near Lowlands in Hamblen County on the river.

On June 6, starting at 8 a.m. a wildlife and bird tour is planned at Rankin Bottoms, where the French Broad and Nolichucky rivers come together to form Douglas Lake.

Rankin Bottoms is a skinny peninsula that is said to be "the best example of river bottomland in East Tennessee." Fish get trapped, and waders, ospreys and eagles are attracted. Rankin Bottoms is also one of the best birding areas in the state. Join a naturalist for a guided tour of this beautiful wildlife habitat.

To make reservations, go to http://www.rapidtransitvideo.com #id=album-1&num=1

For more information contact the French Broad Riverkeeper at 828-252-8474 ext. 114 or at (riverkeeper@riverlink.org)