If you had to guess, how much trash do you think is in the creeks around Knoxville? One ton? Two? How about 24? That is how much trash AmeriCorps Program Director John Harris said last year’s annual, community-wide Creek Clean-up cleared from Knoxville area creeks.

“Over the last 12 years we’ve gotten about 340 tons of trash out of Knox County creeks in these one-day events,” Harris said. “The University of Tennessee has always played an integral part in that.”

This year, AmeriCorps and other Knoxville partners are asking residents and students for their help in cleaning up trash and removing invasive species from both Second and Williams Creek. The effort is called the Clean, Protect, Restore Program. Stephanie Hood, from Keep Knoxville Beautiful, and AmeriCorps, explains the process.

“This year we are broadening our efforts to protect our creeks and will not only be removing trash, but will also be working to restore them by removing exotic plant species along the stream banks,” Hood said.

Invasive plants crowd native species of the East Tennessee region and disrupt the environment on the banks of the streams, he said.

Yet, the biggest reason for the clean-up is the large amount of trash that winds up in these streams. Leslie Chinery, president of Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville, said the pollution spawns mainly from regular waste thrown out by individuals.

“Littering in Knoxville is unfortunately a huge problem, and a lot of this litter gets washed into streams when it rains,” Chinery said. “Many students don’t really think about what happens to the trash they throw on the ground.”

Harris agreed and added that illegal dumping has also been a huge problem until recent years.

“Up until about two years ago, we were fighting a losing battle against illegal dumping. Auto parts, batteries, tires, constructional materials, etc,” Harris said. “We’ve really hit hard on consumer education and neighborhood education in getting people to call 588-ISPY if they see illegal dumping.”

Harris also said that now, much of the waste found in Second Creek comes from trash washed down from the Fort Sanders area of the city. Instead of car parts, the creek is now filled with plastics, bottles and cans.

“We’re still cleaning up 10 or more tons of trash and junk out of the creek in one day,” Harris said. “That’s a lot of straws, or lids, or beer bottles!”

So, what direct effect does this have on Knoxville? Hood stated the effect is enormous. Volunteers will be working on the watersheds, the area of land that drains into the streams.

“Everything we do in our watershed affects water,” Hood said. “When it rains, anything and everything that is on a surface such as the ground, a parking lot, a roof, the roads, etc. can be picked up and carried into our streams and lakes. And there are many pollutants in our watersheds, such as oil, grease, dirt, fertilizers, human and animal feces, nutrients, pesticides, etc.”

Because of this pollution, much of the area’s plant life and fish cannot grow in the proper environment, Hood added.

“Besides, all the water that UT students drink comes from that area, and though it’s treated, it doesn’t help that those bodies of water are so polluted,” Harris said.

Though AmeriCorps and Knoxville area companies are helping in the effort, the clean-up desperately needs the help of students.

“UT is a huge part of that,” Harris said. “UT SPEAK…really does a great job. Most other parts of the university don’t seem to care all that much, which is really sad.”

Hood said that if students would just do little things like not littering on game days and regularly throwing trash in receptacles, the situation could get a lot better.

“It is important to understand the environmental impacts that throwing waste on the ground after a football game can have…especially when you know that it may end up in our rivers and creeks as it flows through the storm water system,” Hood said.

The 12th Annual CPR Creek Clean-up will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28th from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Volunteers will meet under the Tennessee Grill, behind the stadium at the mouth of Second Creek. For more information students can call 523-2358.