NASHVILLE, TN — Tennessee Riverkeeper, along with Nature and Nurture and The Pontoon Saloon removed more than 1,100 pounds of aquatic litter from the Cumberland River in West Nashville on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

12 people attended the cleanup and removed 17 tires and 24 bags of trash. Most of the waste removed was tires, plastic bottles, and styrofoam. Tennessee Riverkeeper is already planning the next cleanup on the Cumberland and needs volunteers.

“There is no easy solution to plastic pollution. We do know that preventing plastics from entering waterways is an obvious solution and it is easier to remove garbage from the shorelines and shallow water of creeks and rivers.  It is very difficult and inefficient to try to remove litter from deeper water,” said David Whiteside of Tennessee Riverkeeper.

Stop drinking bottled water! That is perhaps the easiest way to significantly reduce your microplastic intake.

Research reveals a massive amount of microplastics in bottled water: https://pirg.org/articles/does-bottled-water-contain-plastic-particles/

Read more in our most recent blog post

Check out the February newsletter for Tennessee River Keeper. We highlight our historical impacts, the active cases on our legal docket, and provide some educational resources on the Tennessee River! Click the link below.

https://tennesseeriverkeeper.dm.networkforgood.com/emails/november-newsletter-thank-you-for-your-support-first_name

PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals," are widespread and have been found in the blood of 98% of Americans. These toxic substances are linked to serious health risks, including cancer, immune system suppression, high cholesterol, and reproductive issues. Because PFAS are used in countless consumer and industrial products, exposure occurs through contaminated drinking water, food, cookware, and even clothing. While these chemicals persist in the body for years, reducing exposure can help lower their levels over time.

The Tennessee River, one of North America’s most biodiverse waterways, faces serious environmental threats from pollution, microplastics, and PFAS chemicals. In a recent briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), experts highlighted the challenges facing the river and the urgent need for better conservation efforts. While federal policies such as the Clean Water Act have helped improve water quality, the river still suffers from contamination caused by industrial runoff, extreme weather events, and insufficient funding for biodiversity conservation. Scientists and conservationists stressed that protecting the river’s unique ecosystem requires enforcing clean water laws, securing better funding, and working closely with local communities to implement sustainable land and water management practices.

News Channel 9 explores the rich history and unique features of the Tennessee River, from its origins in East Tennessee to its winding path through seven states. The article covers the river’s role in flood control, hydroelectric power, and its past dangers before TVA dams were built. It also delves into intriguing stories, like Prohibition-era moonshiners and Georgia’s ongoing border dispute over its waters. Read more here.

One of our most significant legal victories at Tennessee Riverkeeper was in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. This lovely town boasts scenic frontage along the beautiful Shoal Creek, but unfortunately, it allowed the creek to become an eyesore due to frequent sewage overflows that went unaddressed.

By David Whiteside — November 9, 2024

The use and production of single use plastics is increasing rapidly, especially since 2020.

Besides microplastics, there are other dangerous chemicals that we might ingest through plastic including phthalates and bisphenols. We know humans are ingesting microplastics and plastic chemicals at an alarming rate, but we are still only learning and realizing the harm that this does to our bodies.

Call For Action : https://waterkeeper.quorum.us/campaign/68259/

As communities nationwide grapple with the escalating effects of plastics, PFAS, and industrial pollution, there is increasing urgency to address the environmental dangers posed by a lesser-known but highly toxic chemical: 6PPD.

Read More . . .

The Cumberland and Tennessee River Watersheds are among the most abundantly biodiverse regions in the Western Hemisphere. All of these different animals and plants mean we have a lot more endangered species than most places.

We have four species of endangered bats. Some of these species of bats fly across the country to our area to hibernate in caves for the winter. Our region has a lot of karst topography, or limestone, which creates a lot of caves!

https://tennesseeriver.org/blog/cbp45of56m52sjzhaf0lb59he57hf2

Call to Action

Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Patagonia Store, The Gulch, Nashville

Address: 601 Overton St, Nashville, TN 37203

Join us for an inspiring evening at the Nashville Patagonia dedicated to raising funds for cleaner water in Nashville, Lebanon, Chapel Hill, Ashland City, Bells Bend, and beyond. The event will feature a compelling presentation by Barry Sulkin from Tennessee Riverkeeper, shedding light on the crucial work they do to protect and preserve the waterways of the Greater Nashville Area.

Click here to read our newsletter.

SPOTLIGHT ON DOWNTOWN MURFREESBORO MURAL FUNDRAISER AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL ACTIONS