Conservationists encourage you to keep rivers clean this summer - Local 3 News

Environmental advocates at the Tennessee Aquarium want to remind everyone to do their part to keep our rivers clean this summer.

Bernie Kuhajda is an aquatic conservation biologist at the Tennessee Aquarium. He said that unfortunately, as more people go out, walk or get in their boats, the amount of trash also increases.

"We really want people to not dump their trash in Tennessee, but to take it out of nature and put it in a trash can," Kuhajda said.

Kuhajda explained that waste in water bodies is harmful to animals.

"Aquatic animals accidentally swim through it, it gets stuck on their head and they can't get it out," Kuhajda said. "They do not have mobile thumbs and may remain there for years, causing serious injuries to the animals."

Plastic in water is also harmful to humans.

"When it comes to plastic waste, it breaks down into microplastics, small pieces of plastic that enter the food chain," Kuhajda explained. "People use about the equivalent of a plastic credit card every year."

Kuhajda said that to protect our water, we must also protect the land.

"We all rely on fresh water to drink and play," Kuhajda said. "We must remember that everything that happens on Earth ultimately flows into our rivers."

There are things you can do to help:

• If you see trash, pick it up and dispose of it properly.
• Avoid single-use plastic
• Take part in cleaning up a river.

"We have Tennessee River Rescue here in and around Chattanooga, as well as many other river cleanups throughout the Southeast," Kuhajda said.

If you would like to help clean up a river, you can sign up for Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.

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