The Tennessee Valley Authority is inviting the public and seeking volunteers to participate in the 20th anniversary celebration of National Public Lands Day on Sept. 28.
TVA’s theme is “Public Lands Are in Your Hands” and the day’s activities will highlight not only the recreational opportunities available to the public, but also provide an opportunity to help in maintaining these public lands.
“These lands belong to everyone,” said Rebecca Tolene, vice president of TVA’s Natural Resources group. “You can help protect and preserve these resources by coming out and getting involved in any number of efforts around National Public Lands Day.”
Responsible for over 200,000 acres of public land, TVA is sponsoring volunteer activities around the Tennessee Valley including a guided bird walk on the Muscle Shoals Reservation in Alabama, installation of two trailhead kiosks at the East Lakeshore trail on Tellico Reservoir, removal of invasive vegetation on Watts Bar Reservation and installation of bluebird boxes near Boone Reservoir.
TVA staff will also be involved in numerous other projects, including debris removal around Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir in Kingsport, Tn. and clean-up and sign installation on Guntersville Reservoir in Alabama.
Volunteers are needed at the various events and should dress appropriately for outdoor work and bring gloves, water, and a lunch. Tools will be provided by the event lead.
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 Environmental Information Center at 800 882-5263. Some events may be canceled or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.