It's been a dirty job pulling broken branches debris, and trash out of Knob Creek after the flooding in Johnson City. But crews are practically finished cleaning that mess.

A growing pile of trash bags aren't such a pretty sight. But it actually means progress and that Knob Creek will be a whole lot cleaner after weeks of tackling an overwhelming job. "There's always a little bit of trash that comes down after a hard rain, we try to keep that cleaned up. But after the big storm and flooding that's more than I've ever seen down here," said homeowner David Kilgore.

Last Wednesday the creek looked much different, more like a swamp. But crews have been busy pulling branches, bottles, even tires before it hits Boone Lake.

News 5 learned an estimated 750 bags of trash were hauled from the cleanup and it's a record-breaking number for the Boone Lake Association.

All the trash will end up in the Johnson City landfill and should be completely gone by Friday evening. "If we weren't getting it out of here it would be entering Boone Lake and it would be spreading," said Russ Harrison with the Boone Lake Association.

If the trash spread, it would make cleanup even more challenging and it's one of the biggest challenges crews have ever faced. "It far exceeds, frankly, what we normally take out on Boone Lake Cleanup," added Harrison.

The disappearing mess is more than just an eye-sore to homeowners, like David Kilgore, it could damage boats and wildlife, which is what Kilgore cares about. "We have great blue heron, green heron, and white-crested black heron that all fish here and it's kind of hard to get to the water with all that trash and debris in it."

There's a similar problem at Cash Hollow Creek. News 5 learned starting next week crews will be working to clean up debris and trash before it flows into Boone Lake as well.