Volunteers celebrate national public lands by pitching in on clean-up efforts.

As the waves crash upon the banks, plastic bottles, Styrofoam, and aluminum cans wash upon the shore.

From trash blowing off boats to people leaving traces of their camping trips, the non-biodegradable items bombard the natural beauty and habitat offered along the banks of Norris Lake.

Many community members advocate for a cleaner lake, and some take these efforts into their own hands.

The Norris Lake Project is one example of a group doing just that.

On a recent sunny weekend, the group hosted its bi-annual clean-up events across Norris Lake. Such events – part of the National Public Lands Day initiative – bring dozens of volunteers from across the area to the lakeshores and islands to pick up trash. 

Kelly Benson cleans trash from a campsite on Pilot Island in Lake Norris. 

Love for Lake Norris  

The Norris Lake Project group hosts two clean-up events each year. In these events, volunteers split into groups and filled bags with litter.

Julie Graham, co-director of the Norris Lake Project, has a passion for Norris Lake, and her goal for the organization is to educate others on doing the same.

“We want people to love the lake,” she said. “People who love the lake will take care of the lake.” 

Like Graham, the volunteers at this recent clean-up event have a deep love for Norris Lake and caring for the environment.

This is the second year Katie Dayton, a 16-year-old from Rocky Top, Tenn., has attended these events. She enjoys the impact she makes on Lake Norris, which is close to home.
Kelly Benson (left) and Rhonda Vineyard (right) walk the shoreline of Pilot Island looking for trash.

For other volunteers, this was a first-time event, but it will not be their last.

Rhonda Vineyard of Knoxville, Tenn., discovered this event while scrolling on Facebook. It caught her attention, and she was ecstatic to do her part in improving the lake.

“We should be helping,” Vineyard said. “I want to keep the lake beautiful.”  

Like Vineyard, Kelly Benson of Andersonville, Tenn., joined the event for the first time. Keeping these natural areas clean is something Benson is passionate about.

“We have the most amazing resource here, and it would be an absolute pity for it to just fall by the wayside and become a garbage dump,” Benson said.  

Kelly Benson (left) and Rhonda Vineyard (right) walk the shoreline of Pilot Island looking for trash. 

TVA’s support 

The Tennessee Valley Authority has a deep history with Norris Lake, and caring for this natural landmark is vital to the history and beauty of the area.

“Norris reservoir’s 800-plus miles of shoreline provide numerous opportunities for recreation as well as support a rich biodiversity of wildlife and aquatic life,” said Suzanne Fisher, TVA Natural Resources program manager. “It and all the public lands TVA manages are special and deserve our care and protection.”

Through its Reservoir and Community Clean-Ups program, TVA provided trash bags, gloves, and trash grabbers for the event. Many TVA employees also volunteered.

The mission of the Norris Lake Project falls directly within TVA’s Service Commitment to environmental stewardship.

“Conserving the Valley’s natural resources involves numerous stewardship initiatives,” Fisher said. “We maximize that work by partnering with organizations and volunteers who understand the importance of preserving our public lands and waterways for the enjoyment of generations to come.”

Kelly Benson searches the shoreline for litter.