NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville is surrounded by rivers, creeks and streams but some of that water is used as a dumping ground rather than as a natural resource.

In an effort to bring more awareness and preservation to water resources, Metro Water Services has partnered with Metro beautification to launch an adopt a stream program.

In just one day, 1.3 tons of trash was collected at the Richland watershed.

"This river can be canoed and there's fish in it in deeper places, but most people think of it as a trash dump. Obviously it would be nice to get people to think about it in terms of something that's beautiful, something that's part of our backyard," said Tommy Pinkston of the Richland Watershed Alliance.

Click here to learn more about the Adopt A Stream program.