Fontana Dam – Those exploring and enjoying Fontana Lake may notice how immaculate the body of water now is, following the fourth annual Fontana Lakeshore Cleanup, which was held Friday-Sunday.
Approximately 45 people per day participated, with many being boat owners. This year’s event resulted in the removal of approximately 170,000 pounds worth of trash from the lake, including more than 70 tires. In its four years of existence, the cleanup has removed at least 22 dumpsters worth of styrofoam alone from the lake.
Fontana Marina Harbor Master Brandon Jones said the most unusual item pulled from the lake this year was a fake apple.
“He was like, ‘This is the strangest thing I’ve ever found out here,’ and I was like, ‘Why would somebody bring a fake apple to the lake?,’” Jones recalled with a chuckle.
Jones noted the importance of the event to the lake, saying that it was beneficial both to wildlife and to the area’s tourism economy.
“From the dam six miles down the lake, it took the four years to do those six miles,” Jones said. “That’s where all that weight would have come from.”
He said that over the years the cleanup had been held, the focus of the cleanup has been moving further down the lake toward Sawyers Creek. He said Sawyers Creek Harbor Master Mike Oros had led a similar effort on his side of the lake.
“We’ve tripled in size (since the first event),” Jones said. “Next year, we’re looking at going down to the other end of the lake and trying to get Alarka Marina, or Almond. We’re going to have to start moving down there, because most of it here is done.”
Earlier this year, the cleanup was honored with the 2021 Ripple Effect award from the Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful organization, presented by Yamaha RightWaters, the Yamaha Outboards’ conservation, sustainability and marine stewardship program.
Jones said the Fontana cleanup accounts for just under half of all the trash removed from water sources by Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.
“A lot of the residents that help us out here are boat owners and surprisingly enough, half of them are just organizations that come to do a cleanup,” Jones said. “They don’t really use the lake but maybe once a year.”