Put on those mud boots, grab a bag, and join your friends and neighbors for the 16th Annual Watauga Lake Cleanup on Saturday, September 19. Sponsored by the Watauga Watershed Alliance, Keep Carter County Beautiful, and Boots Off Hostel and Campground, this annual event has removed 50,000 pounds of trash from Watauga Lake over the past 10 years.
Joellyn Smith, head Litter Chick of the Litter Chicks organization, has volunteered with the cleanup for the past seven years and is gratified to see other nonprofits joining in.
“We are especially happy that Keep Carter County Beautiful has joined in our efforts. A large portion of the lake is in Carter County, and really just a small portion is in Johnson County, so it’s nice to see other groups stepping up.”
Originally organized by Mary Salter in 2007, the event has been held every year except 2024, when the cleanup was scheduled for the day after Hurricane Helene hit. Volunteers can choose from four locations: Watauga Point, Fish Springs, Rat Branch, or Sink Mountain.
The volume of trash removed from the lake each year tops 5,000 pounds, and what volunteers find is endlessly varied.
“We have found sunken boats, giant pieces of Styrofoam from docks, and uncountable bobbers,” Smith said. “One item I tend to find a lot of is lighters—so many that we have a contest each year to see who can find the most. The Litter Chicks also have a contest for the best find on the lake, which is typically a scary-looking doll of some type.”
The Watauga Lake Cleanup begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues through 2:00 p.m. An afterparty at Villa Nove Vineyard will follow the event. For more information, follow Watauga Lake Cleanup or Litter Chicks on Facebook.
