Tellico River Cleanup

by Stefan Roth

The second annual trash cleanup day along the Tellico river was on March 10, 2001. Southern Four Wheel Drive Association holds this event in conjunction with Trout Unlimited and the Tellico Ranger district in Cherokee National Forest, which supplied the trash bags and trash pickup service.

According to Mary Jane Burnette of the Forest Service, there were a total of 61 people who volunteered 305 hours of their time to the clean up. We picked up about 300 bags of trash and a variety of other items including grills, car parts, coolers, bottles, cans, etc. There were probably around 30 or so OHV user volunteers.

We had moderately cool temperatures, making it very comfortable for the dozens of volunteers. We picked up trash along the Tellico river for many miles in Tennessee. We also picked up trash along the river in North Carolina.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time. Watch for the 3rd annual Tellico River Cleanup next March.