Norris Lake cleanup group needs volunteers for Sept. 27 event
‘Adopt-a-dumpster’ launched for lake effort
A boat full of trash collected on Norris Lake is unloaded at the dock in Anderson County Park during the spring lake cleanup this year. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
The Norris Lake Project Team, which coordinates the semi-annual spring and fall cleanups on the lake, said the coming event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will cover parts of the lake in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Union, and Grainger counties “with the mission of preserving the natural beauty and conserving the resources of the Norris Lake Watershed.”
Cleanup efforts will begin from three locations: the Blue Mud Public Launch (adjacent to Big Ridge State Park), Sugar Hollow Marina, and Blue Springs Dock.
Volunteers will have access to boats and barges to reach shoreline areas inaccessible by land, and will use these vessels to bring the collected trash and Styrofoam back to shore, the group said.
Participants with their own boats or kayaks are encouraged to bring them, but there also will be a limited number of kayaks available at the Blue Mud location. Volunteers may ask to reserve those when registering for the cleanup.
The group encourages volunteers “to wear sturdy footwear, preferably boots, and bring gloves and life jackets if possible.”
Minors are welcome, but must have adult supervision and a release form signed by a parent or guardian.
Registrations can be made online at norrislakeproject.com/upcoming-cleanups or onsite the morning of the cleanup.
Since the first cleanup in 2009, thousands of volunteers in the events have helped remove everything from bottles, cans, and Styrofoam to tires, refrigerators, and even abandoned docks and boats, the project team said.
This is the 33rd cleanup event sponsored by the group, which is supported by partnerships with local marinas, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and various community organizations.
This fall, the Norris Lake Project is beginning an adopt-a-dumpster effort to raise money to help cover the costs of dumpsters used in the cleanup events and the refuse disposal fees.
“While dumpsters have often been donated, the growing scale of cleanup efforts has made them one of the most significant challenges,” the group said.
“The dumpsters may not be glamorous, but they are [crucial],” said Stephanie Wells, Anderson County tourism director and Norris Lake Project Team member.
“Every full dumpster represents thousands of pounds of trash removed from our lake,” she said. “By adopting a dumpster, you’re making a direct impact on the health and future of Norris Lake.”
The Norris Lake Project Team, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is led entirely by volunteers and managed in collaboration with local governments, tourism councils, and conservation partners.
To volunteer, donate, or adopt a dumpster, visit norrislakeproject.com.
