NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Beer cans, plastic and packaging materials litter the islands and 213 miles of shoreline of J. Percy Priest Lake.
Approximately 200 tons of trash sits on the lake's islands due to recreational users, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A local group wants to take action to preserve the lake, which is 15 minutes from downtown Nashville.
"It's very beautiful out here," said Chris Cantrell, a ranger with the Corps of Engineers, as he patrolled the area. "It's an awesome scene to be working in. ... I couldn't think of a better place to be working."
As he admired the lakefront, he said not every area is pristine.
"Obviously it's just the way it affects the natural environment," Cantrell said. "No one wants to come out here or enjoy the nature environment with all this garbage laying around here. It takes away from the experience."
Piles of trash scattered about threaten to rob the lake of its beauty.
"You don't expect to see that out here in the great wildlife," said Mark Thien of Team Green, a Middle Tennessee outdoor adventure club.
He said about 1,000 volunteers will be out there on May 3 cleaning up lake. The group will provide boats and supplies for the clean-up project, according to the group's Web site.
"If we can just get the people that are littering, get them to understand the problem, we're in great shape," Thien said.
Cantrell has a simple idea to help fix the problem: Each visitor should be responsible for their own trash.
"Just take your stuff with you," he said. "I mean, this place is out here for you to enjoy."
The free Nashville Clean Water Project at J. Percy Priest Lake begins at 8 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m.
Volunteers will meet and park at Nashville Shores Water Park. They will be shuttled to various points on the lake.
