A little extra tender, loving care is coming to one local waterway.

Members of Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited are gearing up for their annual Bill Beazell Memorial Cleanup of the lake. The event is scheduled to get underway on Saturday, March 17, within Carter County and is free to any willing volunteer looking to give back and help beautify the area.

According to representatives with the organization, the event gets underway with volunteers meeting up at the Elizabethton Ingle’s parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Once volunteers arrive, individuals will assign a “cleanup beat” portion of the river to be cleaned. Organizers for the event will provide trash bags and gloves. Following the cleanup, individuals are welcomed to meet at the Watauga River Lodge at 3 p.m. for a free lunch and prizes. Waders, walkers and boaters are all welcomed to participate in the endeavor.

Organizers are hoping to grow the event to recognize the impact Beazell had within the region and to help commemorate his love of the outdoors. Individuals wanting to learn more can email overmountaintu@gmail.com or visit the Bill Beazell Memorial Cleanup Facebook page for more information.

Providing the support for different cleanup projects helps bring a sense of community pride, according to Carter County Proud founder Ed Jordan.

Carter County Proud provided words of encouragement for their members and encouraged them to take part in the Beazell cleanup before taking part in their own project.

Jordan recently announced to members that Carter County Proud will host their quarterly cleanup of Milligan Highway on Saturday, March 24, starting at 10 a.m. from Happy Valley Elementary School.

Jordan added the event is serving as a kickoff event of sorts for 2018 and that individuals are asked to wear appropriate shoes and clothing. The group is asking for volunteers to bring their own gloves but that trash bags and water bottles will be provided.