Fontana recognized with Southeastern Region award
Fontana Dam – The Fontana Village Marina has been honored among its peers in the Southeast for its commitment to the environment.
The marina has won the 2021 Ripple Effect award for its annual cleanup of the lake, held annually on the first weekend in November. The event has drawn a crowd since its beginning and in its latest incarnation, saw approximately 100 volunteers remove 48,000 pounds of trash from the lake.
The Ripple Effect Award is given annually to groups along the Tennessee River Watershed that improve the area. Only one marina is recognized annually.
It is backed by Yamaha RightWaters, an organization from Yamaha’s outboard motor division backing environmental stewardship.
Fontana Marina Director Brandon Jones said the event is continuing to grow and drew well over 100 participants for its 2020 iteration.
“In three years – nine days worth of cleaning – we’re up to 120,000 pounds of trash (removed from the lake),” Jones said. “(We find) everything from the rooftops of cabins to 50 million flip flops.”
He said it was humbling to be recognized with the award.
“Everybody here that did it with us is pretty proud,” Jones said.
He also said the N.C. Wildlife Association has planted a tree in North Carolina for every 25 pounds of rubbish removed from the lake, amounting to approximately 1,600 trees to be planted.
“It’s a community effort, bringing in the children and adults together to help have a huge impact on the status of the lake or the cleanliness of the lake,” Jones said.
He said that in the most recent cleanup, so much trash was brought ashore that the marina had difficulties finding a place to put it.
“We filled eight, 30-yard dumpsters this year and we actually completed those in the first two days,” Jones said.
“We ran out of funding this year to pay for all the dumpsters, so it’s getting bigger each year.”
Jones said that overall, he was excited to see his small marina win such an award.
“It’s amazing that this small marina out here in the middle of the national park – you know, nobody really knows we’re out here – was able to win an award like that, something that spreads over seven states,” Jones said.
The Fontana Marina offers rentals, a boat launch, a store and shuttle services, in addition to mooring slips.