Over 7.5 tons of trash removed during 'Cherokee National Forest River Cleanup Series' According to Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, the total weight of litter removed is equivalent to 21 bull elk. Author: Dalisa Robles (WBIR) Updated: 10:44 AM EDT March 15, 2021 TENNESSEE, USA — 51 volunteers removed over 15,355lbs. (7.5 tons) of trash during the 'Cherokee National Forest River Cleanup Series'. According to Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, the total weight of litter removed is equivalent to 21 bull elk. The cleanups took place at four sites throughout the month of February. The results for each site were: February 6: Watauga Lake of the Watauga River in Elizabethton: 3,202 lbs.