Maryville College professors Drew Crain and Kim Trevathan want people to fall in love with the Little River in Blount County. However, they do not want people on the river to fall at Peery's Mill Dam.
"If you're just paddling down the river and you don't see that big sign over there that's been defaced, then you don't know there's a big drop off coming up," said Trevathan. "It's almost like an infinity pool where the dam is invisible from upstream."
The large sign on the bank of the river is clouded with graffiti and sometimes shrouded by foliage.
"One of the big problems, the signs that say there's danger, you can't read them anymore," said Crain. "That's where the map will help."
The new blueway map details how to get around all of the hazards and enjoy the attractions on the Little River. The map is free and was created to get more people invested in the river's future.
"Maps of trails on land are greenways. So one that maps a river is a blueway," said Trevathan. "We're hoping it will help publicize the river, tell people the best ways to get to it, and get people to care about it."
"Number one, it gets more people on the river. If they love it, they appreciate it, they'll take care of it," said Crain.
Trevathan and Crain were part of a team with the non-profit Little River Watershed Association that spent around three years developing the map. Crain and Trevathan insist they are no Lewis and Clark.
"This was something done by so many people, we were just a small piece of the puzzle. We floated the entire river from where it comes out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park all the way until it empties into the Tennessee River," said Crain. "Even if you don't like canoeing and kayaking, there's lots of history on here. It shows the most common birds you can see, the fish, the plants, and flora. It's all on the map."
The blueway map also provides guidance on where and how to plan your use of the river.
"We have the spots where you can put in [the river], where to park your car and leave it, where to take out, and do it all without trespassing," said Trevathan. "The map can also show you what's a good trip for two hours, four hours, or an entire day on the river."
"It also has tips about where to avoid. I went to the right at one fork in the river and it ended up being blocked by so many trees, so the map tells you not to go right like I did," laughed Crain.
Crain says he believes the Little River is not utilized as much as it should be by tourists or people who live in the area.
"I would say this river is under-appreciated. I don't know if people realize what an amazing resource we have here. The water quality is so high. This is one of the cleanest bodies of water we have in the nation. The water here started at the top of the Appalachian Trail, it comes down through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it comes out right here. Talk about pristine water, this is as good as it gets and we want to keep it that way."
Crain said the Little River supports more biodiversity than some of the world's most renowned rivers.
"There are more species of fish in the Little River than the Amazon River. Some people have started calling it the Amazon of Appalachia," said Crain.
The association hopes when more people understand where the water comes, the Little River will be more likely to flow clear in the future.
The Little River Blueway Map is free and available at several locations throughout Blount County and Knox County. To see a full list of locations, see the following link at the Little River Watershed Association website.