BOONE, N.C. — Hannah Woodburn has always loved the water.

"I grew up in the river and the streams, that's just what we did we were always going camping and always exploring," Woodburn said. 

What you need to know 

More people are using the streams and creeks in the mountains and that means more garbage is left behind 

A trash trout has been installed in the mountains to help clean up the trash 

In one week alone they found over 400 items 

She's still in those creekbeds and streams, but now she's cleaning them up.

"We are removing trash from this trash trout," Woodburn said. 

The trash trout is a brand new liter control device that floats in the creek. Garbage gets funneled into a fenced-in area and stays put until Woodburn, the Watauga Riverkeeper and volunteers come and clean it out.

"I like to be able to directly make a difference," Woodburn said. 

Woodburn digs deep into the water once a week to get everything she can.They have found everything, from tennis balls to plastic. All of it is harmful to humans, animals and most importantly the environment. 

"Harmful to acquatic life and public health because we're talking drinking water, fish that people eat, water people swim in," Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill said.

In one trip, they found 404 pieces of styrofoam, 19 plastic bottles, and three tennis balls.

Hill is hoping to install more trash trouts around Boone in the future.