KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — More than 500 volunteers gathered earlier this month to participate in the 36th annual Ijams River Rescue, successfully removing over 17 tons of trash from the Tennessee River, creeks, streams, and shorelines across Knox, Anderson, Blount, and Loudon counties.
The final tally, released by Ijams Nature Center on Friday, revealed that the cleanup event held on March 8 resulted in the collection of 14,402 pounds of debris. Volunteers worked diligently to remove 1,157 bags of trash, along with 110 tires and a range of larger items. Among the more unusual finds were a $10 bill, a golf bag, televisions, industrial cables, a bowling ball, an unopened beer, a saw, and a computer system.
One of the cleanup partners, Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, made a significant contribution by collecting nearly 7,000 pounds of trash from eight coves in Fort Loudon Lake, located in Lenoir City. This year’s event also marked an expansion of the cleanup effort, which extended into Anderson and Loudon counties, in addition to the traditional sites in Knox and Blount counties.
Brandy Cox, Ijams Nature Center’s volunteer manager, emphasized the collaborative nature of the event. “Nonprofit cleanup organizations, neighborhood groups, sponsors, and volunteers all have a common goal: to improve the health and cleanliness of the lands and waters in our communities,” Cox said. “The Ijams River Rescue is just one day a year, but cleanups are a year-round labor of love. We all work together to improve East Tennessee, and our histories are intertwined.”
This year’s cleanup marked a significant increase in the amount of trash collected compared to the 2024 event, where 10.48 tons of debris were removed from 31 sites in Knox and Blount counties. The 2025 cleanup, with its expansion to additional counties, saw nearly seven more tons of trash cleared from the region.
Ijams Nature Center partnered with several local organizations and businesses for the event, including the City of Knoxville Stormwater Engineering, Dow, First Horizon Bank, Brunswick Boat Group, Vulcan Materials Company, Borderland Tees, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, Old Sevier District, Tailwater Properties, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Additional support was provided by CAC AmeriCorps, the Water Quality Forum, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, and Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.
This community-driven effort highlights the ongoing need for environmental stewardship and the impact that collective action can have on preserving local waterways. The success of the Ijams River Rescue serves as a reminder that while the event is held annually, the work to maintain and protect Tennessee’s rivers and streams is a continuous effort requiring dedication and collaboration.
