Volunteers needed at Nashville District lakes for National Public Lands Day events

Courtesy Photo | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is enlisting the support of volunteers at its lakes on the Cumberland River and its tributaries in support of the 26th Annual National Public Lands Day. While the official day of the event is Sept. 28, 2019, not all events fall exactly on this date. The national theme for this year’s event is “Connecting to Nature through Service.” It is the largest volunteer hands-on restoration activity of its kind where people do clean up, repair, construction and refurbishment in public parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and cultural and historic sites. (USACE photo by Amber Jones)  

NASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES

09.06.2019

Story by Bill Peoples 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 6, 2019) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is enlisting the support of volunteers at its lakes on the Cumberland River and its tributaries in support of the 26th Annual National Public Lands Day Sept. 28.

The national theme for this year’s event is “Connecting to Nature through Service.” It is the largest volunteer hands-on restoration activity of its kind where people do clean up, repair, construction and refurbishment in public parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and cultural and historic sites.

Visitors at USACE sites take part in tree planting, erosion control, bank stabilization, building trails, restoring recreation areas, trash pickup, removing invasive species and non-native plants, improving wildlife habitats and rehabilitating playgrounds.

Within the Nashville District the public is encouraged to participate at one of the following NPLD volunteer activities on the dates and times indicated:

• Center Hill Lake: Volunteers and students from local high schools are meeting at Floating Mill Recreation Area 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 for invasive plant removal throughout the recreation area. Volunteers are meeting at the shelter located in the park’s day use area. All equipment to do the work is being provided. To sign up or for more information call the Natural Resource Manager’s Office at 931-858-3125. Follow Center Hill Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/centerhilllake.

• Cheatham Lake: Cheatham Lake is partnering with Cub Scout Pack 503 for National Public Lands Day 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. All participants are meeting at the shelter located near the entrance to Lock A Campground to receive directions and begin work. The public is invited to join in and participate. Activity for this year’s event includes litter cleanup along the Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail. Supplies are being provided. For more information, contact the Natural Resource Manager’s Office at 615-792-5697. Follow Cheatham Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/cheathamlake.

• Cordell Hull Lake: Various service projects are planned from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 28 at Defeated Creek Recreation Area. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Defeated Creek Shelter. Projects this year include trail work, parking lot re-striping and tree planting. Volunteers are asked to meet at the shelter located in the park’s free day use area and encouraged to wear old clothes and sturdy shoes. Volunteers will be provided with all the equipment to do the work, and lunch will be provided. To sign up or for more information call the Natural Resource Manager’s Office at 615-735-1034. Follow Cordell Hull Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/cordellhulllake.

• Dale Hollow Lake: The annual Dale Hollow Lake Shoreline Cleanup is 8 a.m. to noon CST at multiple locations around the lake. The Corps of Engineers staff will be stationed at both Lillydale Recreation Area and Pleasant Grove Recreation Area and will supply trash bags, gloves and direct volunteers to areas with large amounts of trash to be picked up. All volunteers should wear the proper clothing and footwear to walk the rugged shoreline of the lake. Call the Dale Hollow Lake Resource Manager’s Office at 931-243-3136 for more information. Follow Dale Hollow Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dalehollowlake.

• J. Percy Priest Lake: J. Percy Priest Lake is hosting its National Public Lands Day event 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at Anderson Road Day Use Area. Once volunteers are registered, they will kayak or canoe to Bear, Raccoon or Pig Island to help remove trash. Volunteers can bring their own kayak/canoe or the Corps can provide one thanks to a partnership with Dave’s Watersports. Life jackets are also available. Park Rangers are going to pick up full garbage bags at each island. Around 12:30 p.m. volunteers will paddle back to Anderson Road for lunch at the pavilion. If interested in volunteering for this event, please private message the lake on Facebook with your name and phone number, or call the Visitor’s Center at 615-889-1975. Due to the limited number of canoes, kayaks and staff that are available, this event is limited to 50 people only. Follow J. Percy Priest Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jpercypriestlake.

• Lake Barkley: Personnel and volunteers are planning projects for National Public Lands Day. Some of the planned projects are removing vegetation from the shoreline, trail maintenance, shoreline cleanup, along with some painting and staining. Free camping is available for participants starting Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22 until 3 p.m. Campsites are limited and will be reserved on a first come basis. Volunteers are meeting at Eureka Campground 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. Activities end at 3 p.m. and lunch is provided. For additional information and to reserve a campsite, contact Park Ranger Wes Davenport at 270-362-4236. Eureka Campground address is 1802 KY Highway 1271, Kuttawa, KY 42055. Follow Lake Barkley on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/lakebarkley.

• Lake Cumberland: The 30th Annual Friends of Lake Cumberland Cleanup, sponsored by PRIDE and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 14, followed by an appreciation picnic noon at Cole Park, which is located at 7929 S. Highway 27 in Burnside, Ky. Gloves and garbage bags are furnished. Participants are asked to check-in 8:30 a.m. the day of the event at Waitsboro Recreation Area or Conley Bottom Resort. Groups can also preregister to be assigned a cleanup area. For more information, call the PRIDE Office at 606-677-6150 or via e-mail at [e-mail]. Follow Lake Cumberland on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/lakecumberland.

• Laurel River Lake: Volunteers from Corbin High school and others (USACE and USFS personnel) will be gathering in September or October (date to be determined) to clean up the Flatwoods area at Laurel Lake. Volunteers will pick up and haul out garbage during the event. The next annual Big Spring clean-up is scheduled in April 2020. Follow Laurel River Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/laurelriverlake.

• Old Hickory Lake: Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 28 to restore and refurbish public lands. Work projects include trail maintenance and clean up at Shutes Branch Mountain Bike Trail as well as general maintenance and clean up at several other recreation areas around the lake. Volunteers should wear closed toed shoes, pants, and bring water. For more information, to register, and for directions to work locations, call Park Ranger Will Gore at 615-822-4846 or 615-847-2395. Follow Old Hickory Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/oldhickorylake.

The Corps has been involved with National Public Lands Day since its inception in 1994 and has consistently been one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. As the nation’s leading federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation, USACE Headquarters manages 421 lakes and river projects in 43 states. With nearly 90 percent of these projects located within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, the Corps sites provide a wide range of safe, affordable outdoor recreation opportunities close to home.

To locate National Public Lands Day events near you, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/. For more information on USACE recreation opportunities visit http://www.CorpsLakes.us and http://www.recreation.gov.

The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.

• Date Taken: 09.06.2019
• Date Posted: 09.06.2019 09:58
• Story ID: 338678
• Location: NASHVILLE, TN, US