Fall Photo Contest
Mark your calendars, we are having a photo contest during East Tennessee’s most popular time of the year! We are ready to see how y’all capture our beautiful fall colors.
To enter:
Follow us on Instagram and/or Facebook (whichever you use)
Take a photo anywhere in Little River Watershed from October 15th-November 15th highlighting nature, community, recreational activities, or anything that Little River Watershed Association supports!
Post it on Instagram and/or Facebook, tag us, and caption it with the hashtag #lrwaphotocontest2025
Submissions must be made by November 15th, the winner will be chosen by November 20th
Winner will receive LRWA swag pack!!
Curious if your photo is in Little River Watershed? Here is a quick guide to the areas in the watershed: the north side of Kuhowi in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Elkmont in GSMNP, the Sinks/Meigs creek in GSMNP, Metcalf Bottoms in GSMNP, the Wye and surrounding area in GSMNP, Tremont area in GSMNP, Townsend, Walland, Rockford, Alcoa, Maryville, and various areas of Blount County (William Blount Drive and East)
If you have a great photo and are unsure if it was taken within the watershed, shoot us a DM or email!
Little River Run 5k
The 7th Annual Little River Run 5K is set for 11 AM on Saturday, November 15th at the Townsend Abbey (7765 River Rd. Townsend, TN 37882). Join Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) and Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) for a run (or walk!) by the Little River in view of the Great Smoky Mountains! The Little River Run 5K is a joint fundraising effort that brings together hundreds of people to celebrate the beauty of Blount County and promote environmental sustainability. All proceeds from the event benefit KBB and LRWA's many free programs, events, and initiatives that focus on environmental education and sustainability.
Registration: Both in-person and virtual race options are available and participants of all ages are welcome. The in-person race is a chip-timed event and will start promptly at 11 AM. Early-bird registration is $25 and ends at 11:59 PM Sunday, September 7th. Registration will increase to $30 on Monday, September 8th at 12 AM. Registration will increase to $35 on Monday, November 10th at 12 AM. Children 12 and under can register for a rate of $15 at any time (age-based pricing will be applied at checkout). Virtual races are not chip-timed and are a flat rate of $30. Registration will also be available on race day until 10 AM but registration ahead of time is highly encouraged.
Virtual Runners: Virtual runners will not receive a chipped bib and therefore will not be eligible for an award. Virtual run times can be self-recorded (via apps such as Strava or Map My Run) and reported to Keep Blount Beautiful, director@keepblountbeautiful.org, if you want to be added to RunSignUp.
Course Description: The race course is now certified! The run begins at the Townsend Abbey (7765 River Road, Townsend, Tennessee 37882) and moves along a flat course by the Little River. The course then curves to connect with the Townsend Historical Greenway for a short time before turning down a side road to end back at the Townsend Abbey. Watch a video of the racecourse here You can view the race map here.
T-Shirts: Runners should register by Wednesday, October 30th to be guaranteed a T-shirt. There will be a limited quantity of shirts available for those who sign up after October 30th. T-shirts are only available to those who attend the race in-person unless picked up at the packet pickup (T-shirts will not be mailed).
Awards: Awards will be announced to the top three finishers, both male and female, and the 1st and 2nd finishers, both male and female, based on the following age brackets: 0-16, 17-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75+. Awards will be announced around 12 PM outside of the Townsend Abbey, weather permitting.
Packet Pickup (and Pint Night): Runners registered for the 6th Annual Little River Run 5K can pick up their race packets on Thursday, November 13th from 5-8 PM. MORE INFO TO COME. Runners unable to make it to the packet pickup can get their packets on race day from 9 AM to 10:30 AM in front of the Townsend Abbey. Those who register after the packet pickup on November 13th will need to get their packet on race day.
Parking: Please arrive early to ensure you get to the start line on time. Parking will be available by 8:50 AM on the grass lot to the left of the Chocolate B'ar on Depot Ave. when entering The Abbey from Hwy 321. Parking attendants will assist with parking when you arrive. Additional parking will be available at CBBC Bank (7729 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy). Overflow parking will be available in the grass lot next to the Townsend Post Office (118 Town Square Dr.), 0.55 miles from the The Abbey. Please prepare for the event that you will need to use overflow parking.
Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help with setting up/tear down, registration/sign-in, parking, and course direction. Volunteers can sign up by clicking the Volunteer tab on the race website.
Post run: Please bring a water bottle to reduce waste. A filling station will be available. After the run, hang out at the Townsend Abbey for lunch, drinks, and prize giveaways. Runners and non-runners are welcome for the afterparty. Each runner will receive a free ticket and giveaways will be announced directly after the award ceremony.
Weather: Historically, the high in Townsend in November is 60 and the low is 38, so plan for a chill but be ready to get warmed up! Dress sensibly and don't pile on layers; the rule of thumb is to add 10 to 20 degrees to the outside temperature to calculate your running temperature. Race personnel reserves the right to delay, cancel, or suspend the race or modify the course due to inclement weather. As stated on the registration and race pages, there are no refunds or transfers. Participants must abandon the race if ordered to do so by the race personnel, medical staff, fire/paramedics, or police personnel.
Pints of Science
Exciting news! We have a brand new speaker series coming to @peacefulsidebrewery starting this fall.
Come out to learn about ongoing conservation efforts in our community in surrounding areas, ecology, recreation types, and the power of environmental education—and enjoy a beer… or two.
More information on speakers and topics closer to dates!
6th Annual Little River Run 5K
We are very excited for the 6th Annual Little River Run 5K on Saturday, November 16th at 11 am at the Townsend, we hope you join us for this fun fundraiser we put on with Keep Blount Beautiful!
Sign up for the race now to get early bird ticket pricing!
Little River Run 5K Packet Pickup + Pintnight
Join us at Little River Trading Co for a pint night and race packet pickup!
Little River Run 5K Pint Night
Join Keep Blount Beautiful, the Little River Watershed Association, and Peaceful Side Brewery for a Pint Night benefitting the Little River Run 5K! All day, $1 from each beer purchase will benefit the 5K. KBB and LRWA representatives will be on site from 4- 7 PM to provide more information on the event and other events and programming!
Adult Snorkel
We have some exciting news! You’ve asked, and were finally answering, we are finally hosting a Stream School, for adults! So mark your calendars for Saturday, August 24th for an adult snorkel session, on the Little River!
We want to give our community an introduction to freshwater snorkeling, and the all the wonders that lie beneath the surface of the Little River, so we are hosting a snorkel session strictly for adults so that they can the chance to observe all the biodiverse aquatic species for themselves up close and personal. For this free event, we do ask that attendees are 16 and up; but don't worry, we will have another stream school for kids soon.
A snorkel and mask will be provided, but at this time we do not have any wetsuits and will rely on the sun to warm us up. Parking is available at the park, and there are portapotties close by. If additional parking is needed, people can park down at the Townsend Historical Trail and walk up. This event is weather dependent, and if the water levels are deemed unsafe we will unfortunately have to cancel.
Space is limited for this event, so please sign up via the form here Snorkel Signup
Little River Community Day
Come hangout and live your best life with the Little River Watershed Association, Conservation Fisheries, Inc., and Tarik’s North African Food!
BYOD (drinks), BYOFD (floatation device), BYOC (chair), and come have the best time ever with your community.
Albright Grove will be donating some beer for the float, but no promises it’ll still be there afterwards though!
Head Underwater: Snorkel 101
Join Conservation Fisheries Inc and LRWA for a free evening discussing how to snorkel and enjoy our beautiful underwater biodiversity! Many of the things we love here at CFI cannot be seen above the water, and this year we want to encourage local folks to HEAD UNDERWATER.
This free panel is led by CFI Director Bo Baxter, Casper Cox from Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia, Jennifer Webster from the Little River Watershed Association, and TVA Fisheries Biologist Justin Wolbert. These folks are the experts on how to best enjoy our beautiful native biodiversity. Celebrate existence with us June 15th 6-8pm at Remedy Coffee for FREE.
Townsend Community Cleanup
Join Keep Blount Beautiful and Little River Watershed Association for the Annual Townsend Community Cleanup! Volunteers will meet at the Townsend Visitor Center to gather supplies and then clean up various areas of Townsend. All litter supplies will be provided. (Note: this event was originally scheduled for March 23rd and rescheduled due to weather.)
Volunteers are encouraged to register for this event to receive event reminders and updates https://forms.gle/FC38PkaNKG1s8i9W6
Pistol Creek Cleanup
Join Keep Blount Beautiful, Little River Watershed Association, and the City of Alcoa for the Pistol Creek Cleanup! All litter supplies and some waders will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to wear rain or muck boots.
When: Saturday, May 18th
Time: 10 AM- 12 PM
Where: Behind New Midland Plaza where Gill St. meets Home Ave. (where Home Ave. crosses the creek)
Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XVhvmCDBPJNPW1Dy5
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up here for this event to receive reminders and updates: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSeRIN2zl4Fdow.../viewform
Little River Paddle + Cleanup
Please join the Little River Watershed Association, on Saturday, April 20th from 12-4 for a river paddle and cleanup! We will start at Peery's Mill, and will do a quick cleanup of that area before set off on a paddle down the Little River. Please plan to be out on the river for roughly 3 hours. Make sure to bring any snacks, drinks and sunscreen you think you will need for that amount of time. We will have some yummy libations at the end for those of age from Albright Grove Brewing as well!
We will takeout at Sevierville Bridge, and collect any trash there we find before we shuttle back up to Peery's. Please note, there are not any bathrooms at either of these locations.
Everyone in your party must sign up individually and you must be 18 years or older to use a boat. Of course, anyone that wants to join using their own craft is welcome to do so. All cleanup supplies will be provided. If you will need a boat to use you MUST fill out the waiver out, there will be 15 sit on kayaks available for use.
If you plan to attend, please sign up via the link below:
Hidden River showing @ Clayton Bradley Academy
Come join members of the education and conservation communities of Blount County along with representatives of Freshwaters Illustrated, Conservation Fisheries Inc, Little River Watershed Association for a viewing of the breathtaking documentary Hidden Rivers. Freshwaters Illustrated will also be sharing newly released educational resources for teachers designed to be used in conjunction with Hidden Rivers.
Hidden Rivers is a 1-hour film that explores the rivers and streams of the Southern Appalachian region, North America’s most biologically rich waters, and features footage from Blount County's own Little River. The film follows the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout our region - revealing both the beauty and vulnerability of this aquatic life - and how many people are finding ways to protect these ecosystems.
Follow the link to get a donation based ticket to this event:
35th Annual Ijams River Rescue
Join us and Keep Blount Beautiful for the Alcoa sites for the 35h Annual Ijams River Rescue cleanup! The 35th Ijams River Rescue is March 9, 2024 (severe weather rain date is March 16)! This event is a great way to safely get out, get active, and clean up the Tennessee River and its creeks and streams to make the Greater Knoxville Area an even better place to live, work, and play!
This event brings together hundreds of volunteers to remove between 10-40 tons of trash from the Tennessee River’s shorelines and its tributary creeks. In 2023, about 700 volunteers removed over 20,000 pounds of garbage from 40 sites!
Everyone who volunteers will receive a t-shirt featuring a wonderful design by Stephen Lyn Bales.
Sign up now to join one of our Alcoa sites!
Townsend Community Cleanup
Join Keep Blount Beautiful and Little River Watershed Association for the 7th Annual Townsend Community Cleanup! Volunteers will meet at the Townsend Visitors Center to gather supplies and then clean up various areas of Townsend. All litter supplies will be provided. Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes and long pants.
Volunteers are encouraged to register for this event to receive event reminders and updates. Please register here: https://forms.gle/o9NiYziz2vh52RMR8
5th Annual Little River Run 5K
Please join us for the 5th Annual Little River Run 5K at the Townsend Abbey on Saturday, November 18th at 11 Am at the Townsend Abbey.
Join the Little River Watershed Association and Keep Blount Beautiful for a run (or walk!) along the Little River in view of the Great Smoky Mountains! This race is a great way for runners and walkers alike to come out and support a clean, green, and beautiful Blount County.
The Little River Run 5K represents a joint effort through which both organizations encourage participants to be active and engage with their community, enjoy the beauty of Blount County, and help spread the message of environmental stewardship. All proceeds from the run will support the many free events, programs, and educational initiatives offered by Keep Blount Beautiful and the Little River Watershed Association, including litter pickups, stream cleanups, invasive removals, recycling events, and educational programs.
LRWA Meet + Greet + a GSMNP Themed Dog Costume Contest at PSS
Come out to the Peaceful Side Social on Friday, October 20th for a Little River Watershed Association Meet + Greet and a doggie costume contest!
The theme is “Creatures of the Smokies + Little River,” so your pup can be a trout, a salamander, a frog, a monarch butterfly, a black bear or anything among the diverse species of the Smoky Mountains!
Register your pup from 4:30-5:30pm. There will be a runway show at 6pm for your dog to strut her/his stuff in front of the audience of judges.
The audience will judge the winner and will be given the grand prize, as well as be featured on our social media!
Grand Prize: 1 Peaceful Side Brewery Travel Bowl, 1 Peaceful Side Brewery Beer Can Dog Toy, a $50 Peaceful Side Gift Card, but Pup Cups for every dog!
Runner Up: LRWA Shirt & Koozie
LR5K Pint Night & Packet Pickup
Please join us for the final Little River Run 5K Pint Night and Race Packet Pickup on Thursday, November 16th at Little River Trading Co.
Runners can pick up their packets before race day at Little River Trading Company (2408 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804) on Thursday, November 16th from 5-8 PM. While your there picking up your packet, make sure you grab a tasty adult beverage. During this time, 100% of each beer purchases will benefit the Little River Run 5K, so make sure to stay for a pint!
Little River Cleanup
Please join the Little River Watershed Association and Keep Blount Beautiful on Saturday, September 16th from 9-11 AM for a cleanup of two key recreational areas on the Little River.
We will be cleaning up and removing trash from both Coulter’s Bridge and Sevierville Bridge. Volunteers will sign up and then be given a designated meeting spot. If you have a preference of location or want to be with a group, please note when you register. Please wear closed toes shoes and long pants or shoes with tall socks. There will be a limited amount of waders on site for volunteers to use, and all other supplies will be provided.
To sign up for this event, please fill out the form here: Little River Cleanup
Little River Run 5K Pint Night
Join Keep Blount Beautiful, Little River Watershed Association, and Tri Hop Brewery for a Pint Night benefitting the Little River Run 5K! From 5 PM-8 PM, $1 from each beer purchase will benefit the 5K.
Mustard Seed Food Truck will be there when you get hungry!
The 5th Annual Little River Run 5K is set for 11 am on Saturday, November 18th at the Townsend Abbey in Townsend, TN. Join Keep Blount Beautiful and Little River Watershed Association for a run (or walk!) along the Little River in view of the Great Smoky Mountains! For more information on the Little River Run 5K and to register, visit RunSignUp.comhttps://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Townsend/LittleRiverRun5k
Stream School for Kids
Stream School for Kids is an outdoor educational program that provides a fun introduction to stream science for kids and their parents. Stream School is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM-based event for kids, geared for grades 3-7. Younger ages are welcome with adult supervision.
There are 4 different stations including Water Quality/Water Chemistry, Watershed Station, Macroinvertebrates, and everyone's favorite Fish Identification which includes a snorkel in the river(weather permitting) at the end with our partners Conservation Fisheries, Inc.
To sign up your child for this fun event, click the link HERE!
Stream School
Save the date! Our first public Stream School of the season is going to be Saturday July 1st!
Our Stream School for kids is back for the first session of summer on Saturday, July 1st at Whispering River RV Resort.
Sign up your kids, grades 3-6, for this event for their chance to learn about the river and a watershed as a whole, right on the banks of the Little River.
This educational event is a great way give your children a hands on experience to learn about the ecosystems beneath the surface of the river, so make sure to reserve your spot now! Click the link below for more details and to register.
Fly Fishing Film Tour
Please join us at Yee Haw Brewing on Sunday June 4th at 2 PM this Sunday for the Fly Fishing Film Tour
This traveling film show highlights some of the best fly fishing films out there and we are super excited to be a part of it!
An added bonus to this event is that some of the proceeds of the are being donated to the Little River Watershed Association! We are beyond honored!
So make sure get tickets to the show, they can be purchased online via the Fly Fishing Film Tour website, locally at 3 Rivers Angler, or bought the the day of at YeeHaw Brewing.
So make sure you come out for a good time this Sunday!
Browns Creek Cleanup
Join Keep Blount Beautiful and Little River Watershed Association for the Browns Creek Cleanup!
Volunteers will meet behind the Food Lion on Hwy 321 (1707 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy) on Sunday, May 7th at 12 pm. All litter pickup supplies will be provided, but be sure to wear closed-toed shoes (preferably muck/rain boots). We will have some waders for volunteers to use as well. Lunch will be provided before the cleanup at 12pm. Volunteers are welcome to join us after the 12 pm start time!
Front Porch Night Pint Nights @ Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center
Come out to SMOC on Thursday, May 4th from 5-7 to shop and sip in support of the Little River Watershed Association! This is the first of Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center’s pint night fundraiser initiative, Front Porch Pint Nights!
There will be giveaways, food from Apple Valley Cafe, and live music from Millie Rochelle!
Paddle + Clean
Please join the Little River Watershed Association, with many thanks to Knox Adventure Collective for supplying boats, for a Cleanup and Paddle on Sunday April 23rd from 11:30-6! We will meet at River John's island at 11:30 and shuttle to Coulter's Bridge at 12 PM sharp. When we arrive at Coulter's Bridge we will do a quick cleanup of that area before set off on a paddle down the Little River! Please plan to be out on the river for roughly 3-4 hours. Bring any snacks, drinks and sunscreen you think you will need for that amount of time!
We will takeout at River John's Island and have snacks on the island afterwards. Please note, there are not port-a-potties on the island yet. This event is weather dependent, if the water levels are too high and the river deemed unsafe, we will postpone the event until a later date.
Everyone in your party must sign up individually and you must be 18 years or older to use a boat. Of course, anyone that wants to join using their own craft is welcome to do so. All cleanup supplies will be provided. If you will need a boat to use you MUST fill out the waiver at https://knoxvilleadventure.com, there will be 5 canoes and 4 kayaks available, so space is limited for a boat and shuttle unless you supply your own.
Email littleriverwater@gmail.com with any questions.
Please make sure to fill out the google form here if you plan on attending.
Ijams River Rescue
Please join us for our third year hosting a Ijams River Rescue site in Blount County. Ijam’s has been putting on a river rescue cleanup for 34 years and in more recent times, expanded the cleanup locations too beyond Knox County. So please join us on Saturday April 15th to help do our part with this monumental effort!
Click the link for more info!