Wildlife Photograph

Ijams Holds Another Successful River Rescue

Tuesday May 09, 2006
Read what we hauled out of the muck this time!

On Saturday, April 1, Ijams Nature Center held the 17th Annual River Rescue on the banks of the Tennessee River.  River Rescue is Ijams’ largest clean up event; volunteers come from all over Knoxville and surrounding communities to pick up debris at 40 sites up and down the Tennessee River.  Anyone can volunteer and everyone makes a huge difference in the amount of garbage that is picked up.  This year 650 volunteers showed up for the event and collected over 12 tons of garbage and 72 discarded tires.                                                                        
    River Rescue crews were able to extend their clean up to additional sites this year because of the better-than-expected turn.  That fact will prove to be a benefit in coming years because crews were able to pinpoint some locations that should be added to the River Rescue site list in the future.  Peg Beute, who is in charge of organizing River Rescue, says that the large turn out and great success can probably be attributed to the beautiful weather we had that day.  Popular opinion, however, is that people just can’t pass up the chance to wade around in the muck with her.  Make sure to join us in April next year for River Rescue and see, for yourself, how much fun it can be!

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