CHATTANOOGA — Scientists from the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute and students from Calvin Donaldson Elementary School will release juvenile lake sturgeon into the Tennessee River by Coolidge Park at about 12:30 p.m. Friday.
About 65 of these young sturgeon spent months growing large and robust enough to safely return to their native waters. The species has existed since the Cretaceous Period and has remained largely unchanged during that massive passage of time.
By the 1970s, this river giant — which can reach lengths of nine feet — had all but disappeared from the Tennessee River due to a combination of poor water quality, damming of the waterway and over-fishing. It is state-endangered in numerous states throughout its native range, including Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute.
TREMONT — Come help remove garbage and graffiti on Saturday from Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the inaugural Save Our Smokies Spring Clean.
The goal, coinciding with Earth Day, is to remove at least 5,000 pounds of litter and as much graffiti as possible from the country's most-visited national park in the course of a day.
KNOXVILLE — SEEED Knox will celebrate Earth Day at 4 p.m. Saturday with an Earth Day Spring Market at 1617 Dandridge Ave. Check out Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development for more information.
KNOXVILLE — Infinite Light will celebrate Earth Day in a ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at First Creek Park off N. 6th Avenue. The crystal ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. If it rains, it will be held in the Infinite Light Center. Donations will be collected for a monetary gift to the park. Bring a couple of clear quartz crystals, a chair and a potluck dish for a picnic after the ceremony.
KNOXVILLE — Keep Knoxville Beautiful is celebrating Earth Day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at RiverHill Gateway. Volunteers will help clear an overgrown section of Neyland Greenway and replant it with native plants and flowers. All supplies will be provided. Register for the event with Keep Knoxville Beautiful; spaces are limited.
KNOXVILLE — The Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association (KEVA) and Drive Electric Tennessee (DET) are hosting the 2022 Knoxville Drive Electric Earth Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday under the Clinch Avenue bridge at Worlds Fair Park. Come meet and learn with electric-vehicle owners. Register to showcase your electric vehicle ahead of time, there is limited space.
KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee continues its celebration of Earth Week from noon to 1 p.m. Friday with the opening of Pendergrass Library’s Seed Library. This will be an interactive event. Participants will learn about seed libraries, preserving biodiversity, and get their hands a little dirty helping plant seeds at the Grow Lab. The university’s Earth Week celebration will wrap up from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at Student Union Plaza with a sustainability festival featuring tabling, music and a sustainable-fashion show.
OAK RIDGE — Oak Ridge National Laboratory has a slate of events set to mark Earth Day. Tune in via Zoom at 11 a.m. Thursday with Amanda Killingsworth for a look at beekeeping and its challenges. At 11 a.m. Friday, learn about efforts to reduce plastic waste with Eastman director of specialty plastics, Chris Layton, who will discuss the global plastic waste crisis and “molecular” recycling as a potential solution. Get links here for both Zoom events and more information: ORNL’s Earth Day.
VONORE — Join a hike at 1 p.m. Friday to learn more about Fort Loudoun State Historic Park and the impressive trees that stand within.