Ed McAlister, founder/owner of River Sports Outfitters, and Brooke Phibbs, River Sports store manager and Powell resident, met with Enhance Powell yesterday to discuss extending the Beaver Creek water trail into Powell. They offered to lend watercraft for volunteers to explore the creek and do the work to open it up.
The Beaver Creek water trail was recently opened from Harrell Road Stormwater Park to the Karns Sports Park and that section is maintained by the Beaver Creek Kayak Club. For video, check WBIR-TV at https://www.wbir.com/news/local/knox-countys-beaver-creek-blueway-open-to-paddlers/443275673.
“The Beaver Creek Kayak Club is grass roots,” said Doug Bataille, senior director of Parks & Recreation for Knox County. “It’s neighbors meeting neighbors on the creek.” His department has a jon boat purchased by Commissioner Brad Anders. He offered it for the cleanup projects.
Working as a volunteer for Enhance Powell, Roy Arthur is heading the project to remove some 27 obstructions on the creek from Central Avenue Pike to Clinton Highway. Arthur is the watershed coordinator for Knox County Engineering & Public Works and a Powell resident. He recommends two boats, each with a two-member crew and a chainsaw to cut the debris. Additional volunteers will work from the creek banks, pulling wood and trash out of the water. Knox County will then haul it away.
Volunteers should contact Arthur at roy.arthur@knoxcounty.org