Tire-Fighters: Reflecting on Kentucky River Cleanup Week’s Successful Conclusion

Volunteers from the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center and the local area remove a large commercial-grade tire from the Kentucky River during the Final Event of KY River Clean-Up Week on August 23, 2025 in Leslie County. Photo by Matthew Sparks.

The anticipated finale of Kentucky River Week, a joint organization effort of LiKEN Knowledge, the Kentucky Riverkeeper, and Friends of the Red River many months in the making, was about to come to a close on August 23, 2025. The success of the event largely depended on my ability, as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Leslie County, to execute it. I was so stressed about how this event would go, but it ended up being better than either I or the community even imagined.

The Keys to Success: Giving Thanks to Fellow Community Organizers

Teamwork truly makes the dream work. So many other people went into making today a great success. The Kentucky Riverkeeper provided so much promotional and technical support and got us fully outfitted for this undertaking. Some amazing local bands, food from Trails of Smoke BBQ, and even the garbage disposal, were all meticulously organized by Hyden’s mayor. Even without “wallering in the creek” with us, all these folks played a vital role in getting our community out and having a good time while showing their support.

There were so many other folks who enriched the event merely by being present beyond just volunteering. Former District Judge Renee Muncy showed up early to welcome the Kentucky Riverkeeper to Leslie County and show her unwavering advocacy for the Middle Fork and those who dwell along its banks. Lesley Sneed, from the Kentucky Resource Council also made a welcome appearance fresh from our previous day’s tire pull–in which volunteers literally pulled tires up the riverbank–to show solidarity, and to, of course, dispense some of her incredible knowledge about Kentucky’s freshwater mussels. I was so excited to show her (a specialist in such a niche field) the freshwater mollusk we had found, and she was ready to tell me not only its species, but showed me how to tell its age (“like a tree”), by reading the rings on the shell. The mottled, brackish off–white husk of the approximately 15-year-old freshwater bivalve now sits on my shelf—a powerful reminder of the biodiversity of the Middle Fork, and the ongoing importance of maintaining its health.

Some of the "river rats" mentioned that volunteered for the river cleanup. Such volunteers are crucial in making future events like this possible. If you're interested in volunteering with us in the future, please see our events page and follow us on Facebook! Photo by Matthew Sparks.

On the volunteer side, most of us “river rats” have known each other for 25+ years. Others coming from further out in central Kentucky made us feel like we had known them for as long—diving right in and getting dirty with us! We boated a bit, and we dug to the point of having a darn archaeological dig in the Middle Fork. Some of the more interesting items we found beyond tires included a plastic iguana, an almost fully intact exercise bike, a nearly 15-year-old shell of a Mucket clam—a species native to the Kentucky River identified with the help of KRC’s Lesley Sneed—and even a pair of XXXL men’s underwear!

Building “Appalachian Pride:” The Fruits of Labor for Volunteers

Of course, it was far from a picnic in the park. We grunted and did quite a bit of primal screaming, but it was all worth it to have made the difference! To quote volunteer Katie Bowling Johnson, “Doing a battle cry while lifting a 600 lb tire with your childhood bestie brings out some primal Appalachian pride!”

And we did not stop at just one or even two. We pulled 31 tires out of the creek collectively, 9 car–sized tires, 11 commercial–grade tires, and there was another 12 that Randall Combs of the Leslie County Sheriff’s Office pulled from the stretch of the Middle Fork that runs through his backyard. We also could not have done it without Magistrate John Newell, and my longtime friends, the Jackson family (special shout out to their two young boys) who truly went beyond the call of duty to help us pull the tires up steep creek banks using a truck and a side by side. Likewise, these folks graciously took care of the transport and pre–disposal drop off of the tires and other garbage for us at our designated dumping site!

Local volunteers dropping off tires, wheels, and other debris removed from the Kentucky River. How many tires can you count in this one picture of the pre-disposal site? Photo by Matthew Sparks.

Weeks and even months on, however, it is apparent that the event was good for the health of the community as well. Following up with volunteers from the event, they affirmed the event’s value not only on the community level but also for them personally:

“It’s easy to get caught up in routine…work, home, kids, repeat, and forget the beauty of the world around us and how we need to be more involved in caring for this earth that sustains us. And how amazing to have an opportunity to do it with lifelong friends. It was a beautiful experience. (Courtney Clay Young). Bonding with people who have the same goal and appreciation for our beautiful Appalachian hometown… to make it cleaner and safer for my community… and more importantly, for my children to be able to play in our rivers and streams without dodging garbage and tires gives you a sense of pride that can’t be bought. I really can’t wait to help out again next year! (Katie Bowling Johnson).”

With our first Middle Fork “Tire Pull” done and dusted, we are left with some souvenirs, photos, and unforgettable memories to enjoy. I cannot wait to do this again next year and make it even better than the first time! 

Have you spotted any areas especially bad for tires near where you live in Kentucky? If so, please check Kentucky Waterways Alliance’s Tire Tracking App!

Keep the Middle Fork and our watershed clean, y'all, and join us next year!