The Little River Watershed Association is excited to announce two upcoming events that will kick off a quarterly speaker and outdoor education series called “LITTLE RIVER WATERSHED 101” focusing on the Little River, a unique and threatened resource right here in Blount County.
The purpose of the series is to educate the public about watershed dynamics and why the Little River Watershed is especially valuable to the residents of this area. Topics will also address why the Little River needs protecting as well as provide practical steps that everyone can take to help.
**The first event is the fall Adopt-A-Stream cleanup on Saturday, November 12, 10am-12:30pm. For more details on how to volunteer for this event, see below.
**The first lecture in the Watershed Education 101 series is entitled Darters, Damselflies, and Rock Dams and will take place on Wednesday, November 16, 7-8pm in the Blount County Public Library, Dorothy Herron Room A. The event is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.
In addition to providing some of the cleanest drinking water in the state, the Little River is one of the most ecologically diverse rivers in the area. Joyce Coombs, Research Associate and Adam William Jaeckel, Graduate Student in the University of Tennessee Fisheries department will introduce the aquatic life found in the Little River, as identified, measured, and categorized by the University of Tennessee Fisheries experts. They will explain why the Little River is used as a “benchmark” river, one that is so diverse, it is used to measure water quality standards in other areas of our region. The speakers from UT will also address the recreational activities on the Little River, namely the construction of rock dams, and how these dams can cause harm to aquatic life.
To Volunteer for Adopt-A-Stream November 12, 10am-12:30pm
As part of LRWA’s ongoing commitment to preserving and protecting the Little River, the organization hosts four river cleanups per year.With the help from volunteers, the cleanups have removed thousands of pounds of garbage from the banks of the Little River!
Meeting place: 5396 Old Walland Hwy (the old location for Eats by the Creek restaurant)
Directions: From Hwy 321 turn left onto Old Walland Hwy between the volunteer fire station and the Walland Center/ BP/ Post Office. Cross over the Walland Bridge, and the meeting location is immediately on the right.
What to bring: For volunteers who are not canoeing, it is recommended to wear long pants, closed-toed shoes or boots. Gloves will be provided, but if you have a favorite pair of work gloves, bring them along. Children under 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Early Sign-Up: Call the office at 980-2130 or e-mail snaildarter@littleriverwatershed.org Early sign-up helps us to provide enough materials for all volunteers. Registration and sign-up on the 12th will be handled at the Walland location listed above.
Volunteers for the LRWA will collect garbage along the banks of the Little River in Walland as part of the organization’s Adopt-A-Stream participation. Volunteers may stick to the banks to collect trash or they may canoe and kayak to help collect trash in the river. LRWA will not be providing boats or shuttling service, but boaters can check in and pick up trash bags and instructions, and mark trash drop-off locations.
Please check your e-mail or visit our website before the cleanup for any last-minute modifications due to weather. We will cancel the event if there is inclement weather or high water. We hope you can join us!
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