July 17, 2014 - Mayor Madeline Rogero welcomed the announcement today of a planned Knoxville visit next spring by the nationally recognized river conservation organization Living Lands & Waters. The group's "Tennessee River Tour" will kick off with a stay in Knoxville, which will include a public river cleanup and educational activities across the city.

Living Lands & Waters was formed in 1998 by Chad Pregacke, whose efforts to clean up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers have led to the removal of more than 8 million tons of trash from American rivers, with the help of nearly 70,000 volunteers. In 2013, Pregacke was named CNN's "Hero of the Year." This will be Living Lands & Waters' first cleanup effort on the Tennessee River.

"We have been working closely with Chad and his team, and we are thrilled to be part of this project," Mayor Rogero said. "The Tennessee River has been central to Knoxville's identity since the city's founding. This effort will highlight the importance of protecting our waterways and conserving our natural resources."

The primary sponsor of the Tennessee River Tour is the Tennessee Valley Authority. For information about other sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, see www.tennesseerivertour.org.

After departing Knoxville, the Living Lands & Waters barge will stop at Chattanooga; Huntsville/Decatur, Ala.; Muscle Shoals/Florence, Ala.; Paris, Tenn.; and Paducah, Ky.