Percy Priest Lake Kayak Cleanup

Percy Priest Lake is surrounded by 18,854 acres of public lands in a developed area of Nashville, meaning it is very susceptible to trash and debris accumulation as a consequence of stormwater runoff and recreation. Not only is Percy Priest Lake located on the Stones River, a tributary of the Cumberland River, but 10,000 acres of Percy Priest Lake are devoted to wildlife management – it’s important that we do our part to keep its waters clean!

At this kayak cleanup, Compact volunteers will disembark from the Anderson Road Boat Launch on Percy Priest, using the kayaks to remove litter and debris from shorelines and islands that are difficult to access otherwise. Kayaks will be provided to a limited number of volunteers who register for the event on VolunteerHub. Once the event fills, volunteers must provide their own kayak, canoe, paddleboard, jon boat, or other small watercraft to volunteer and must contact the Volunteer Coordinator in advance. 

What to Bring & Wear:

• Clothing and shoes that can get wet and dirty. No flip flops or backless slides, please!
• A hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
• Reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and snacks if needed.

What We Provide:

• Gloves, litter grabbers, trash bags, and all necessary cleanup materials.
• A brief overview about water conservation in Nashville!

Volunteer Requirements:

• Volunteers must be at least 13 years old and able to operate their own kayak. A parent or guardian must sign a waiver on their child’s behalf and attend the event with anyone under 18. 
• No prior kayak experience is required—just a positive attitude and a willingness to help Middle Tennessee waterways.
• Volunteers must be able to meet the physical demands of a multi-mile kayak route.

Contact:

For questions or additional information, please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@cumberlandrivercompact.org

This cleanup is made possible thanks to funding from Metro Water Services and Metro Nashville, and their dedication to ensuring the Cumberland River and its tributaries are clean. Don’t forget – that’s where 3 million people get their drinking water!

• Looking to volunteer with a group? Please contact Anna at volunteer@cumberlandrivercompact.org to be plugged into this volunteer event or another, depending on availability. Curated, private volunteer events are currently available to event sponsors.
• Interested in hosting your own independent cleanups? Reach out to Adopt-a-Stream@cumberlandrivercompact.org to inquire about adopting a stream section in Nashville!

This event has two shifts. One in the morning (9-am – 12pm) and one in the afternoon (1pm – 4pm)

Register (9am – 12pm)       Register (1pm – 4pm)

The event location has no address but these GPS coordinates will lead you to the location: 36.105948, -86.594967: