The Tennessee Clean Water Network has launched a new blog. The blog will cover water quality issues, legislative updates, stories from local communities, and updates on TCWN's activities.

From Joe Gallagher:

We have an unusual opportunity to contribute to the "Foothills Land Conservancy" in a very fun way tomorrow evening (Thursday). You may have seen the story in the Women's Section of last Sunday's Daily-Times about Cathie Golden's Birthday party. Cathie Golden is owner and manager of "Waste Not Want Not," a Recycling Coalition Thrift Shop at 1505 E. Broadway in Maryville.

Cathie is very involved in making Blount County and the Earth a better place. She is known to some of us as a CAPPE member, she has attended Raven Society meetings and she is dedicated to Foothills Land Conservancy.

In a world of givers and takers, Cathie qualifies as a World Class Giver.

April 3 is Cathie's birthday. She came up with the creative idea of "Cathie's Birthday Singing Debut" tomorrow night (April 3) from 7:00PM to 9:30PM at MUSIC ROW of Maryville, 2808 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy. There will be LIVE MUSIC. Bring your instruments to jam along. There will be a CAKE CONTEST. Call 379-1112 for details. There will be a BUCKET AUCTION with chances to win a variety of gift baskets.

This event is FREE! Donations will be accepted at the door. ALL PROCEEDS go to Foothills Land Conservancy.

The House conservation subcommittee voted against a ban on mountaintop removal mining.

Tom Humphrey files this report on the House subcommittee vote. Voting against the bill were William Baird, R-Jacksboro; George Fraley, D-Winchester; Joe McCord, R-Maryville; Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains; and John Tidwell, D-New Johnsonville.

Sen. Tommy Kilby, chair of the the Senate environment and conservation committee, has rejected Sen. Raymond Finney's call for a hearing and a vote. More on the Senate action here.

Residents invited to Annual Earth Roundup. The 2nd Annual Earth Roundup will be held on Saturday, April 19th beginning with the Little River Clean up that begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until 2 p.m. Call Keep Blount Beautiful at 681-4809 for more details. Then, beginning at 4 p.m., bring your family to Maryville College for food, activities, and information about a variety of environmental subjects how you can take steps to improve and conserve our most precious resources such as our rivers, air, and electricity. For more information on the entire event call, Cathy Rhodes, Little River Watershed, at 980-2130.

I came across this at the City of Maryville website and thought it worthy enough to post here. Link...

Robert Wilson has an article in today's Knoxville News Sentinel with more about Laverne Farmer's conservation gift:

Her family has owned the ground near Bethel Baptist Church in Townsend since the state of Tennessee was 28 years old. They got it in a land grant in 1824.

There's some interesting background and history of Lavern Farmer, her family and the land, once known as the "Vale of Tuckaleechee Cove."

A disturbing development in Cataloochee Cove:

Link...

Little River water levels continue to drop, 23 cubic feet per second (cfs) for Aloca and 38 for Maryville.

Maryville public information officer Pam Arnett reported Little River water levels have stayed consistent at 38 cfs. Whereas, Alcoa's level has dropped from 25 to 23. Does this mean Maryville is not conserving enough water?

According to today's Maryville Daily Times, Phase III of water restrictions are in effect and the water usage restrictions are getting tougher, no car washing at all, nurseries, landscape facilities must stop using city water for irrigation.

How low will it go? Shall we start a pool?

No rain for several weeks and no rain predicted. We are now required to conserve water.

Update: City of Aloca and City of Maryville Press Release for Phase II Mandatory Water Restrictions.

Link

According to Maryville City Manager Greg McClain, the water level of the Little River has dropped to 40 cubic feet per second, forcing authorities to ban watering lawns or gardens as well as prohibiting car washing and filling swimming pools. Residents with automatic sprinkler system also are being asked to completely turn off their timers.
...
“I think both cities will take a soft-handed approached at first,” Wiggins [City of Alcoa] said. “If a homeowner is found to be watering a lawn the first call may be a warning. Maybe they don’t read the paper or watch the TV.

“But if there are a numerous violations they could be cited, with each day being an additional citation.”

On September 24th, the Cities of Maryville and Alcoa are once again requesting residents to voluntarily conserve water.

At this time, the cities are asking their customers and those of Tuckaleechee Utility District (which purchases its water from Alcoa) to voluntarily conserve water. Reducing water use will help ease the demand on each of the water systems which, in turn, eases the demand on the river. Specific suggestions include:

• Stop irrigation of plants, trees and landscaping
• Refrain from washing cars
• Fix all leaky plumbing fixtures, including outdoor hoses
• Run washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads
• Use a broom instead of a water hose to clean sidewalks and driveways

For now, water conservation is still voluntary. However, if the area does not receive any rain in the next few days, mandatory restrictions may be implemented.

Link

Here's a writeup at KnoxViews re. a couple of interesting land use programs Mr. McMahon mentioned in his presentation this week, i.e the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and Location Efficient Mortgages.

(LEMs are still in a pilot program, but wouldn't be relevant in Blount Co. anyway because we don't have any public transportation.)

Sunday they asked us to voluntarily conserve water.

There has been no significant reduction in water use since Sunday when Maryville and Alcoa called for voluntary water conservation because the water level in Little River has reached historical lows.

“We are on the verge of a mandatory ban of nonessential water usage. This is a very serious matter, and we all need to conserve water in any way we can,” said Maryville Mayor Joe Swann on Tuesday.

Please people, pay attention. Conserve water. Do a rain dance.

Click image for larger view...

Here's a great new environmental education project over in Springbrook Park. On our evening walks over there we had noticed some work going on around the stream near the footbridge on the lower end of the park. A couple of days ago we found out what they were doing when they installed this sign.

Lots of native plants and trees now line the stream banks to demonstrate ways to protect riparian habitat from runoff and erosion caused by nearby development.

The sign has a wonderful painting by Leah Gardner of the UT Environmental Landscape Design Lab with a key depicting the various species that were planted, including Ironwood, Sycamore, American Beech, Hearts-a-bustin', Cherokee Sedge, Swamp Milkweed, River Oats, and lots more.

It's a good thing they have a guide, because I wouldn't be able to identify more than a couple of these plants and trees.

The sign also explains stream buffers and how they help protect the environment, and what you can do to help protect stream water quality with plantings in your yard.

We're not sure who organized the project, but according to the sign the cooperating partners are the City of Alcoa, the City of Maryville, Blount County, the National Fish and Wildlife Federation, the Blount County Soil Conservation District, TVA, the UT Environmental Landscape Design Lab, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Little River Watershed Association, the Little River Water Quality Forum, the ALCOA Foundation, and the EPA.

Stop by and check it out the next time you're over in Springbrook Park.