Regional Stream Cleanup
Each fall, the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable conducts a one day regional stream cleanup with funding from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Cleanups from 2004 through 2007 resulted in 1,600 volunteers picking up 95.11 tons of litter. In spring of 2007, after the Roundtable formed its own Keep American Beautiful affiliate, Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful, the first two-month-long Great American Cleanup concluded with 1,271 volunteers picking up 65.75 tons of litter. To volunteer for either event, call 276-628-1600.
Rain Gardens
The Upper Tennessee River Roundtable has installed nine rain gardens throughout the region with funding assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Tennessee Valley Authority. A rain garden is a garden bed in a shallow basin that treats stormwater by capturing the first half inch to inch of rain and filtering it through various bed components before releasing it into the subsoil. Sometimes, a rain garden requires an overflow outlet into an adequate channel. Rain gardens incorporate plants that cycle nutrients and neutralize pollutants and metals. Plants are selected that can tolerate varying wet and dry periods.(Image credit: Chris Green, UTRR.)
Rain Barrel Workshops
With funding from the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the Roundtable conducted a series of workshops to show people how to make rain barrels. Additional workshops have been held since then. Altogether, the Roundtable has conducted nine rain barrel workshops, with 176 people constructing 168 barrels. A rain barrel is attached to a downspout to catch runoff from a roof. The collected water can be used for watering plants and washing vehicles. More workshops are planned in the future. Call 276-628-1600 for dates and places. (Image credit: Carol Doss, UTRR.)
"Talking Trash" Litter Summit
As a result of the second "Talking Trash" Litter Summit, Wise County initiated an environmental court similar to the very first court established in Memphis, Tennessee by the Honorable Judge Larry Potter. Following the Summit, additional localities also joined the Assign-A-Highway Program that utilizes probationers to pick up litter. The second summit included innovative solutions to litter prevention and included a dinner for area judges. (Image credit: Jim Smith.)
Upcoming Events
Disc Golf Tournament Fundraiser
Saturday, June 21: 1 p.m.
Entry fee is $15 and includes hotstamp disc and minimarker. Click here for more information.
Stream monitoring workshop
Thursday, July 31: 10 to 11:45 a.m.
This free event will be held at White's Mill in Abingdon. Register by July 25.
Rain barrel workshop
Friday, Aug. 8: 10 to 12 noon
This event is $15 per person and will be held at White's Mill in Abingdon. Register by Aug. 1.
Contact Us
Physical Address:
366 West Main St., Suite 400
Abingdon, VA 24210
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2359
Abingdon, VA 24212
Phone/Fax:
T (276)628-1600
F (276)623-1353
E-mail