Water Quality Forum

Educational Initiatives

The Water Quality Forum strives to educate community members of all ages and occupations about the streams and rivers in the East Tennessee region and involve these people in activities that protect and improve the health of local watersheds. In keeping with these goals, the WQF partners conduct ongoing K-12 water quality education programs and special projects and events.

Friends of First Creek


Student congratulating Burger King manager on becoming a Friend of First Creek.

The Friends of First Creek (FOFC) is a community-wide effort to reduce the amount of trash and other pollutants entering First Creek and ultimately the Tennessee River.  FOFC involves both education and action!  Over 1500 students and 125 teachers from Gresham, Central and Fulton Schools have learned about what it takes to protect the health of a watershed and have helped remove over six tons of trash from First Creek over the past three years.

Friends of First Creek has also educated restaurant owners and managers on what their businesses can do to help safeguard First Creek.  As a part of this outreach, FOFC partners used educational materials specifically developed to assist restaurant owners and managers in implementing technical and behavioral practices to reduce the pollutant load into First Creek.   Over 15 restaurants in the First Creek Watershed have whole-heartedly joined this program.  Not only has it provided them an opportunity to become better stewards of their community's natural resources, it has also given them a leg-up on complying with City stormwater regulations!

Friends of First Creek is a model initiative that is intended to be replicated in other watersheds.  A very special thanks goes out to all the partners that have made this successful initiative happen including the Tennessee Valley Authority, City of Knoxville, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Ijams Nature Center, UT Water Resources Center and the CAC AmeriCorps Water Quality Team.  We are also deeply appreciative and proud of the many students who contributed their personal time to this effort. 

 

 

 


Student reviewing educational materials before talking to restaurant manager about practices to protect First Creek.


Students providing educational material to Shoney's manager on Broadway.



Student discussing with Long John Silver's restaurant manager about what can be done to help reduce the pollutant load into First Creek.



Congratulations to Cancuns for joining Friends of First Creek!