Army Corps Hosting Lake Cleanup

The Army Corps of Engineers wants volunteers to help remove garbage from Dale Hollow Lake and Center Hill Lake for National Public Lands Day.

A shoreline cleanup event scheduled at both lakes Saturday morning. Park Ranger Desmaray Brown this is a good time of year to clean up trash because the lower water levels allow people to cover more ground and find more waste.

“We get a big dumpster and we nearly fill(ed) it up the past couple years,” Brown said. “And it’s just a huge impact, all that stuff that we see that, you know, could have been left behind and nobody touched and that every year would add up significantly if we weren’t removing that trash.”

Brown said the event at Dale Hollow Lake will have people on foot and in boats gathering trash throughout the area. Brown said local organizations like scout troops and the Friends of Dale Hollow Lake will be there to help clean up.

“I think it helps people give back ’cause this is a public land offered to everybody,” Brown said. “So it’s the public’s way of coming and helping out and giving back, being able to use that public land and be a part of something special helping keep it clean.”

Brown said the event will not be cancelled or postponed for weather unless thunderstorms are present around the lake. Brown said anyone interested in helping at the event should email her or call her at (931) 243-3136.

“Come prepared with first aid, gloves, water, stay hydrated, and be weather aware, that sort of thing,” Brown said. “You can let me know how many participants that you’re planning on helping with the effort, how many service hours from each participant, and also after some photographs of the impact that you made or the work that was done and maybe a brief narrative of the work you did.”

Brown said anyone who shares that information will be put on a list to receive a fee-free coupon for one of their day use areas.