KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — A new piece of technology designed to remove litter from the Tennessee River is expected to help keep waterways cleaner while improving safety for cleanup crews.
The device, known as the River Rover, was developed through a partnership involving the Tennessee Valley Authority, Yamaha and Keep America Beautiful. Leaders with Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful say the project has been in development for three years and is now ready to begin making an impact on river cleanup efforts.
Executive Director Kathleen Gibi said the River Rover was created to address a longstanding concern about trash accumulating along the river and around dams.
“We’re finally having a solution to an issue that’s been brought to me since I started this job in 2019,” Gibi said. “The concern for litter getting up against dams, and then moving down through to the next part of the river.”
The River Rover is deployed through an opening in a boat and can be operated remotely, allowing crews to collect floating debris while remaining a safe distance away from dams and other hazardous areas.
Gibi said that safety was a major factor in the device’s development.
“Obviously dams, there’s a safety concern. And so this device allows us to go where we don’t want people to,” she said.
The approximately $200,000 project is believed to be the first of its kind. Before conducting cleanup operations near dams, organizers plan to work closely with TVA to establish safety procedures and communication protocols.
Officials say the River Rover will not only help remove litter but also educate the public about how trash reaches waterways. Much of the litter found in rivers begins on land and is carried through storm drains during rainstorms.
Gibi encouraged residents to take part in cleanup efforts and support programs such as Adopt-a-River Mile and Adopt-a-Storm Drain, both offered through Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.
The organization hopes to establish a public cleanup schedule within the next year, allowing residents to track River Rover operations and see the technology in action.
