The Tennessee Valley Authority is inviting the public to participate in the 21st anniversary celebration of National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27, and to volunteer their services to help care for public lands.
TVA will be highlighting the many recreational opportunities available on the more than 290,000 acres of public lands and waters that TVA manages across its seven-state service area. Activities also are being planned to give volunteers an opportunity to become involved.
“Environmental stewardship has always been a key part of TVA’s mission of service to the Valley, but we are just the caretakers of these public lands and waters,” said Rebecca Tolene, TVA vice president of Natural Resources. “National Public Lands Day reminds us that each of us has a personal responsibility to protect and preserve these resources for future generations to enjoy.”
TVA is partnering with several organizations to sponsor volunteer activities around the Tennessee Valley, beginning with a trail cleanup on Sept. 20 at Leeman Field in Pennington Gap, Va.
Events on Sept. 27 include facility improvements and cleanup activities at the Watts Bar Dam Recreation Area in Meigs County, Tenn.; Wildcat Point on Tellico Lake near Vonore, Tenn.; Fort Patrick Henry near Gray, Tenn.; Big Ridge and Loyston Point boat launch areas on Norris Reservoir in Tennessee, and Worthington Cemetery Trailhead at Melton Hill Reservoir near Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Volunteers should dress appropriately for outdoor work and bring gloves and water. Tools will be provided by the event leader.
Additional activities on Sept. 27 focus on new ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, including a special women’s fly fishing course at Miller Landing on Norris Reservoir; a bird walk on a new ADA accessible trail at Marbut Bend in Limestone County, Ala., and short paddle trips at the grand opening of the Tims Ford Blueway in Winchester, Tenn.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. It was created to educate people about critical issues affecting the environment and natural resources and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands.
For project details, including hours, directions and contacts, please see the TVA webpage at http://www.tva.com/river/recreation/public_lands_day.htm or contact the TVA Public Land Information Center at 800 882-5263. Some events may be canceled or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.