More than 40 volunteers picked up approximately 200 bags and over 7,000 pounds of litter during the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance's “Creek Cleanup” on Saturday.

The Watershed Alliance sponsored the volunteer cleanup along Holley Creek, the first organized event this year of Keep Greene Beautiful's Great American Cleanup.

Those participating included members of the Watershed Alliance itself, plus Trout Unlimited, Greeneville Hiking Club, Marine Corps League, Tusculum College's Service Learning Program, the Greeneville chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, Greene County Hunting & Fishing Club, USDA Forest Service, TVA, Rural Resources, Natural Resource Conservation Service, the town of Greeneville, and Keep Greene Beautiful, as well as individuals.

"We are extremely pleased with the number of volunteers on such a breezy and cold Saturday morning,” said Tim Armstrong, chairman of the Watershed Alliance. “We would like to all of the businesses in the Commons for donating items to the cleanup.”

Trout Unlimited Wins

Trout Unlimited received the award for the most bags of litter collected during the cleanup, with 42 bags of litter and also won the award for the most volunteers ,with seven participating.

Greeneville Hiking Club members received the award for the most unusual item found. During the cleanup, they found a love letter, Easter eggs and a cast.

Some of the other items submitted for the most unusual item found during the cleanup included a tent, five shopping carts, muffler, trash can, bumper from a car, several old barrels and unopened beverages. Also, one volunteer reported finding a vacuum cleaner.

In addition to the special awards, door prizes including $10 and $5 gift cards from Kmart, $25 gift certificate from David Hawk for The Tailor Shop, an ETSU golf shirt, lanterns from Big Lots, a Curve perfume set from Proffitt's, and a tool set from JC Penney's were given away.

"Keep Greene Beautiful has participated in a lot of cleanups but this one was just remarkable," said Candy Adams, director of Keep Greene Beautiful and a member of the Watershed Alliance. "Despite the cool temperatures Saturday morning, it was amazing the number of bags of littered collected in such a short period of time.

Results Seen As A Lesson

Adams continued, “The results of this cleanup should be a lesson to each one of us, that is. It is truly amazing what a difference you can make in a short period of time when a few determined volunteers come together. This definitely made a major and positive impact on our community."

The volunteers registered at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Big Lots on U.S. Highway 11E.

Volunteers Warned

Armstrong, chairman of the Watershed Alliance, conducted a safety orientation, advising the volunteers to be careful when handling broken glass and other sharp objects, along with heavy objects.

He told volunteers to be aware of dangerous animals or plants, such as snakes and bees or poison ivy.

The volunteers received trash bags and gloves, provided by TVA, before splitting into two groups. One group focused on cleaning the around behind McDonald's restaurant, and the other worked near Proffitt's. They cleaned along the creek bank from Snapps Ferry Road to Tusculum Boulevard.

Before beginning to work, the volunteers learned what a watershed is from Mike McElroy, district conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A watershed, he explained, is an area where water will drain to a particular point. He noted that Holley Creek drains to the Nolichucky River, which drains into the Tennessee River and then into the Mississippi River.

The Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance is a non-profit group of organizations and individuals interested in maintaining and improving water quality in the Nolichucky River and the area draining into it in Greene County.
Armstrong said volunteers encountered more debris this year, which he attributed to recent heavy flooding.

Robert Zimmerman, a member of the Greene County Fishing & Hunting Club, found two large concrete culverts — that carry the creek under the U.S. 11E Bypass — partially blocked by several downed trees.

It took Zimmerman several hours, with some help from jail inmates, but when he was done, the trees and accumulated debris that had formed a partial dam were gone, and the stream was flowing freely through both culverts.

This year's event was the second one sponsored by the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance.

In addition to the Watershed Alliance, the event was sponsored by TVA, Keep Greene Beautiful, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Big Lots, JC Penney's, Proffitt's, Kmart, East Tennessee State University, Amoco/BP/Quick Lube, David Hawk, Greene County Fishing & Hunting Club, the Marine Corps League and Goody's.

For more information or to become involved with the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance or Keep Greene Beautiful, call Adams at the Greene County Partnership, 638-4111.

Alliance To Meet

The Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance will meet Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the conference room of the Courthouse Office Annex on Cutler Street.

The group will hear a report on Saturday's cleanup along Holley Creek, and also hear an update on efforts to obtain permanent access to the wetlands at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center.

The group welcomes anyone interested in maintaining and protecting water quality in Greene County.