A county-wide project will continue to see some love over the weekend.
The Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts (APEs) are scheduled to host a Lower Doe River Cleanup Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting from the access point located across the road from Hampton High School.
According to information provided by APEs member Michael Potter, the cleanup will consist of wading through the water and maneuvering across the river banks to collect trash. Boats will also be used, but places can only be accessed by foot due to certain shallow areas.
“We want to get as much trash as possible out of the river, but are looking to clean up the floodplain for safety reasons and time limitations,” Potter said in a Facebook thread for the APEs page.
Individuals are invited to take part in the cleanup to help with the continued beautification process of the location.
It’s a step in a right direction following up April’s cleanup day where a variety of business owners and citizens joined together to help get the area primed for whitewater usage. The project was spearheaded by the Elizabethton IDEAS group and assisted by the APEs, Carter County Parks & Recreation Board and the county’s governmental bodies – the Mayor’s Office and County Commission. Carter County Schools System also played an integral role.
During April’s cleanup, citizens were able to clear through the rough terrain and shrubbery to set up the beginning phases on the river access, along with a celebratory sail down the Doe River.
The idea, according to the IDEAs group, was to help utilize the area to attract tourism to Hampton for the whitewater opportunities.
“It is amazing, simply amazing,” Metin Eryasa, IDEAS Group member and work day coordinator, told the Elizabethton Star following the cleanup. “To see so many different people come together to work toward a goal, it’s just amazing.”
“This is old school, this was the way we were raised,” Eryasa added. “It’s all about coming together to get the job done. It surpassed my expectations, but it didn’t surpass the dream.”
A collective effort has been the name of the game when it comes to the project in Hampton. Following some dumping in the area, county representatives, including the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, helped knock away some loose shrubbery from the area months ago.
Now, with ideas looking to continue for the area which is tentatively scheduled to become a more beautified area for river access and fishing opportunities, the APEs organization added online they’re ready hit the ground running for the cleanup, and encourage the community to take part.
For more information on upcoming projects at the river access or other tidbits circulating through the IDEAS group, visit either the Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts or Elizabethton IDEAS Group Facebook pages online.