Annual effort yields nearly 100,000 pounds of waste
Fontana – In 2017, community members and volunteers in the Fontana Dam area joined Brandon Jones for the inaugural lake clean-up.
In a day and a half, 12 people had collected 22,000 pounds of garbage.
It was a start. Considering the size of the lake and the manpower devoted to the clean-up, it was a daunting undertaking.
Fast forward to the seventh-annual clean-up, and you will still find Jones hard at work to preserve Fontana Lake. Over a three-day span of Oct. 18-20, Jones and around 100 volunteers gathered on the lake banks to collect garbage and ensure the pristine lake will continue to be a haven for fishermen and watersport-enthusiasts alike.
The total weight collected is estimated to be between 70,000-90,000 pounds.
“We finally cleaned the main channel, including Fontana Dam, the Tsali Recreation Area, and the Almond Boat Dock,” said Jones, who was named the 2023 Public Land Conservationist of the Year for his efforts.
“We are now focusing on the nonworking tributaries.”
Around 500,000 pounds of garbage has been collected in the seven years the effort has existed.
The unspoiled, scenic lake is 29 miles long and includes 240 miles of remote shoreline. It is North Carolina’s deepest lake, averaging 135 feet and 440 feet at the deepest point.
A significant part of the lake borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.