Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show
 

Knox County Stormwater site captains were happy to participate in this clean-up as part of the 33rd annual Ijams Nature Center's River Rescue on March 19th. We were even more excited to see this section of Flat Creek get cleaned up, since we walk Flat Creek for our visual stream assessments and use this site at the Mascot Road Bridge for bacterial monitoring. 

You could not walk two steps without stepping on bottles and cans along Flat Creek at the Mascot Road Bridge, but with a couple of hours and 8 hard-working volunteers, we gave the area a total make-over. Volunteers walked along the roadway and worked on the steep stream bank. In total, 400 pounds of trash, several tires, and the front bumper of a car were collected!

River Rescue is a great volunteer opportunity that has a big impact. This year, close to 560 volunteers safely removed 21+ tons of trash, including 146 tires, across 44 clean-up sites in Knox, Anderson, Blount, Loudon and Roane counties. Since Ijams started tracking what cleanups collected in 1995, more than 1 million pounds of trash has been removed from areas in and around waterways.

Tennessee Tree Day 2022
 

At-Home Practices to Improve Water Quality
Four ways you can implement into your home outdoor care this Spring. 

If you apply fertilizer to your lawn, always do so at the recommended rate only. Applying more than recommended can burn your lawn, or run off during the next rain. Additionally, soil tests with fertilizer recommendations are available through the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture HERE.

If you are adding a patio or front walkway, consider using pervious pavers. This attractive alternative to asphalt or concrete allows rainwater to infiltrate into the soil below through spaces between the pavers, instead of running off and ponding in a low area. 

Try washing your car on the lawn instead of in the driveway or street. This will prevent soaps from getting into the local creeks and you will also be watering your grass. Car soaps won't hurt your grass.

Lastly, if you see any illicit discharge (any discharge to the storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater) in your neighborhood, report it! Examples of illicit discharge include oil, sanitary wastewater, laundry wastewater, and auto and household toxics. Additionally, make sure grass clippings or other yard waste does not end up in the storm drain. 

Participate in the Cheers to Clean Water: Tennessee River Clean-Up & Paddle Off presented by Earthadelic Landscape & Construction benefitting the Water Quality Forum on Saturday, June 11th at Suttree Landing Park.

Participants are encouraged to bring a kayak, canoe, or paddle board and take part in a competitive race, or join forces with the The City of Knoxville Waste and Resources Management Office, Ijams Nature Center River Keeper, and other partners to clean-up the river!

Following the race is a celebration in the name of clean water at the park featuring local brews, yard games, local water experts, music, and a chance to take home some swag.

For more information and to sign up, check out their website HERE.

We are looking for local artists to paint rain barrels! Rainy Day Brush Off is a community-building event that features the work of local artists and students who create unique, artistic rain barrels. Rain barrels are a great way to collect rain water to use on your garden later. 

If you are not the artistic type, you can still participate by buying a finished rain barrel when they are all auctioned off. They will be displayed in the middle of May at different community buildings and businesses around Knox County. The event will culminate at the Cheers to Clean River: Tennessee River Clean-Up & Paddle Off Celebration on Saturday, June 11th from 12:30 to 4:30pm.

If you are interested in learning more, email Haley Michael-Lee at programs @waterqualityforum.org.
 

WaterFest 2022: From Mountain To Fountain