Reedy Creek

In Kingsport, TN, Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts (APEs) partners with Kingsport’s Stormwater Division to clean up litter in Reedy Creek, which runs along the 10-mile Kingsport Greenbelt. This is a Class I gentle flow waterway that goes through private backyards, beside shopping centers, and along industrial sites. It also has scenic sections with nothing but wildlife and nature.

APEs volunteers, including Steve Davis (shown above right with his canoe), have floated the creek from the Holston Valley Drive Greenbelt access to Hope Haven Ministries and from Holston Valley to the confluence with the South Holston River, while volunteers from Keep Kingsport Beautiful have walked the banks.

Inspiration for improving Reedy Creek comes from the Knox County Water Trail on Beaver Creek. This initiative is focused on maintaining a 44-mile stretch of navigable water across five Tennessee communities.

Trash collected by APEs volunteers during the 2023 Reedy Creek cleanup.