Who: Everyone is welcome

What: Little River Clean-Up

When: Saturday August 28th  9:00am – 12:00

Where: 5 mile section from Walland Bridge to Kinzel Springs Bridge.  Meet at the old restaurant “Eats by the Creek” on Old Walland Hwy near the Walland Bridge.

The clean-up will focus on a  5 1/2 mile section of the Little River from Kinzel Springs Bridge in Townsend to the Walland Bridge on Old Walland Hwy near the intersection of Hwy 321.  We will meet at 9:00 am Saturday morning on Old Walland Hwy at the formerly known ‘Eats by the Creek’ restaurant near the intersection of East Millers Cove Road.  Click Here for a link to a google map of the meeting location.  The clean-up will last about 3 hours.

Free Lunch: All volunteers whom come out on Saturday to help LRWA clean-up will be provided a lunch courtesy of the Walland Center Deli.

If we have enough volunteers participate, then we will clean-up a few more locations along the Little River that have heavy use and plenty of trash to be cleaned up.

If you are planning to canoe or kayak on the Little River that day and want to help out, then we can arrange trash drop off locations.  LRWA will not be providing boats or shuttling service.

What you need:

It is recommended to wear long pants, closed toed shoes or boots.  We will be cleaning up along the banks of the river.  The vegetation is thick this time of year.  Poison Ivy, Stinging Nettle, wild Rose bushes, Greenbriers and Blackberry bushes are common and should be expected.  Long pants can provide a layer of protection.  If you have a favorite pair of work gloves bring them along, but gloves will be provided.  Children under 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult.

To Sign-Up: call the office at 980.2130

The Little River Watershed Association is hosting an Adopt-a-Stream river clean-up on Saturday August 28th.  Everyone is welcome to come out and help clean-up our river.   The clean-up will focus on a  5 1/2 mile section of the Little River from Kinzel Springs Bridge in Townsend to the Walland Bridge on Old Walland Hwy near the intersection of Hwy 321.  We will meet at 9:00 am Saturday morning on Old Walland Hwy at the formerly known ‘Eats by the Creek’ restaurant near the intersection of East Millers Cove Road.  Click Here for a link to a google map of the meeting location.  The clean-up will last about 3 hours.    All volunteers whom come out on Saturday to help LRWA clean-up will be provided a lunch courtesy of Chris Lane at the Walland Center Deli.

If we have enough volunteers participate, then we will clean-up a few more locations along the Little River that have heavy use and plenty of trash to be cleaned up.

If you are planning to canoe or kayak on the Little River that day and want to help out, then we can arrange trash drop off locations.  LRWA will not be providing boats or shuttling service.

What you need:

It is recommended to wear long pants, closed toed shoes or boots.  We will be cleaning up along the banks of the river.  The vegetation is thick this time of year.  Poison Ivy, Stinging Nettle, wild Rose bushes, Greenbriers and Blackberry bushes are common and should be expected.  Long pants can provide a layer of protection.  If you have a favorite pair of work gloves bring them along, but gloves will be provided.  Children under 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult.

To sign up, visit our website and follow the link ‘Contact Us‘ page.  You can also call the office at 980.2130.

Due to the rainfall last night, the volunteer training to collect water samples today has been rescheduled until Tuesday August 17th at 1pm.  We will meet at the same location at the Special Peoples Park in Townsend.

For a google map of the meeting location follow this link, Special Peoples Park

To sign up as a volunteer follow this link to our website,  http://www.littleriverwatershed.org

For real-time water discharge data of the Little River above Townsend, follow the link below to the USGS website to view the water level measured by the gaging station located on the Boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.    Click here, USGS- Little River above Townsend

The Little River Watershed Association will be assisting TDEC’s Division of Water Pollution Control to sample the water quality on portions of the Little River.  Volunteer meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, August 12th, at 1pm at the Special Peoples Park in Townsend.  Volunteers should be prepared to get in the water.  We will be reviewing sampling techniques, data forms and site locations.  This will be our first day to collect water samples. We should be finished by 3:30.

For a google map of the meeting location follow this link, Special Peoples Park

If you have not signed up, there is still time.  To sign up as a volunteer follow this link to our website, LRWA, or contact us directly.

office:: 980-2130

email::  Mark.Whited@littleriverwatershed.org

The Little River Watershed Association has partnered with Tennessee’s Department of Environmental Conservation, TDEC, to conduct a water quality monitoring program in the Little River.  Volunteers are needed to collect water samples during the day for the next couple months.   A training session with TDEC staff will take place next week.

Volunteers will be paired up to collect water samples.  Volunteers will travel to (4) sites in the Townsend and Walland area.  Volunteers must have their own vehicle.  To collect the sample of water you will have to wade into the middle of the river to collect the sample.  Therefore this requires getting wet and being stable on your feet to safely collect each sample.  Individuals under 18 years of age whom are interested in participating must be accompanied by an adult.

To sign up, call the LRWA office  or send an email to Mark Whited:

980-2130

Mark.Whited@littleriverwatershed.org

In order to attend, participants must register by July 26 by email with Christine Hoyer, Trails and Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, or by phoning (828) 497-1949.

Complete details found here:

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/parknews/adopt-a-trail-recruitment.htm

June 9, 2010

Jim Jeffries (Alexander) 202-224-8816

Laura Herzog (Corker) 202-224-3467

Alexander, Corker Introduce Bill to Designate Tennessee Wilderness
Legislation Would Preserve Six Areas Totaling 19,556 Acres in Cherokee National Forest

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) today introduced the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010 that would designate six different areas totaling 19,556 acres as wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest. These areas were recommended for wilderness status by the U.S. Forest Service in the development of its comprehensive 2004 forest plan and have been managed as Wilderness Study Areas since that time (a map of the proposed wilderness areas within the Cherokee National Forest can be found here).
“I grew up hiking in the mountains of East Tennessee and know firsthand that these beautiful landscapes should be preserved for generations to come,” Alexander said. “The bill we are introducing today is an important step in conserving some of the most pristine areas in Tennessee and will strengthen the legacy of Tennessee’s natural heritage.”
“We are blessed in East Tennessee with God-given amenities and an unparalleled natural environment, and the Cherokee National Forest is a prime example,” Corker said. “I thank Senator Alexander for his lifelong commitment to protecting scenic wilderness areas and am proud to join him in this effort to preserve Cherokee National Forest for future generations of Tennesseans and Americans to enjoy.”
Congress began protecting wilderness areas in the Cherokee National Forest in 1975, with additional wilderness areas being established by the Tennessee Wilderness Acts of 1984 and 1986.
The Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010 specifically creates one new wilderness area and expands the boundaries of five separate existing wilderness areas already within the Cherokee National Forest. Since these areas are owned entirely by the U.S. Forest Service and are being managed as Wilderness Study Areas currently, this bill will have no effect on privately owned lands and will cause no change in access for the public.

The Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010:

•   Creates the 9,038 acre Upper Bald River Wilderness (Monroe County)
•   Adds 348 acres to the Big Frog Wilderness (Polk County)
•   Adds 966 acres to the Little Frog Wilderness (Polk County)
•   Adds 2,922 acres to the Sampson Mountain Wilderness (Washington and Unicoi County)
•   Adds 4,446 acres to the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness (Carter and Johnson County)
•   Adds 1,836 acres to the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness (Monroe County)

Click Here for a Map of proposed areas for the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010

The Blount County Environmental Awareness Camp is sponsored by the Blount County Parks and Recreation.  The Camp instructor is Liz Domingue, a well know local Naturalist and Wildlife Biologist.  Liz has been directing this camp for several years and brings her expertise along with her each year!

Campers will learn about stream and forest ecology with emphasis on plant and animal biology and animal signs and tracking in a FUN camp atmosphere that also includes nature crafts.  Campers will be enjoying the outdoors while learning much about their natural surroundings.  Campers will visit area parks each day.  Special Guests will be visiting camp too!

Register at:

Blount County Parks & Recreation Office

316 S. Everett High Road

Maryville, TN 37804

or register on-line at www.parksrec.com

Space is limited.

just released the Draft Version for the 2010 303(d) list.

This document is a result of years of aquatic surveys measuring biological species diversity along with bacterial and chemical composition.  For those interested in reviewing stream condition in our watershed, the tributaries of  Little River Watershed begins on page 74 listed under the Upper Tennessee River Basin.   The Upper Tennessee River Basin includes the watersheds for the Little River, Fort Loudoun Reservoir and Watts Bar Reservoir.

Follow the link below to the TDEC website for a PDF copy of the document.

Draft 2010 303(d) list

Unfortunately, there are no streams listed on the 2008 303(d) which are eligible for delisting on the 2010 303(d) list due to improved water quality.

The Little River Watershed is the home to (6) Endangered Species.  The preservation of aquatic habitat is essential for their survival.

Fish

Duskytail Darter Etheostoma percnurum

Snail Darter Percina tanasi

Fresh Water Mussels

Fine-rayed Pigtoe Fusconaia cuneolus

Pink Mucket Pearlymussel Lampsilis abrupta

Orange-foot Pmipleback Pearlymussel Plethobasus cooperianus

Fresh Water Snail

Anthonys River Snail Athearnia anthonyi

Contraddiction

Saturday May 29th, 2010

at the Maryville College Chilhowee Club

Noon- 9:45pm

Live Music by Fiddlewitch and calling by Hank Morris

$20 individual or $30 couple

Students: Half Price

For more information visit this link to Knoxville Contra Dance.  To download a PDF of the Contraddiction flyer and registration form click HERE.

]]> http://www.littleriverwatershed.org/?feed=rss2&p=1402 0 http://www.littleriverwatershed.org/?p=1382 http://www.littleriverwatershed.org/?p=1382#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 19:53:05 +0000 News from the Little River http://www.littleriverwatershed.org/?p=1382 Troutfest is a Fly Fishing Exposition and Fundraiser held in Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. Proceeds from this event are donated to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department, Friends of the Smokies Fisheries Scholarship Endowment or other youth educational conservation projects. The Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited sponsors this event as a major fundraiser and annual festival. This year they expect the event will be one of the largest venues for fly anglers in the Southeast United States.  Below is a schedule of events & more information is available at Troutfest. We hope to see you there!

– City of Maryville Water Quality Report–
The status of Little River’s drinking water is published yearly at this link.

-– TDEC Website–
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is encouraging all Tennesseans to observe National Drinking Water Week, May 2-8. Tennesseans can do their part in promoting good stewardship of the state’s water supply by helping protect our source waters from pollution, practicing water conservation, actively supporting the upkeep of drinking water infrastructure and becoming involved in local water issues.  In addition to celebrating National Drinking Water Week, this year marks the 36th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act – which forms the core of our national efforts to provide quality drinking water and protect the health of our citizens.  A noteworthy 98 percent of Tennessee citizens receiving public drinking water are served by public systems that meet all federal requirements for safe drinking water – one of the highest rankings in the United States.  See the complete press report here.

– CDC  Website–
Each year, the American Water Works Association and an alliance of organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sponsor National Drinking Water Week to highlight the importance of tap water and the need to reinvest in our nation’s drinking water infrastructure.  Although the United States has one of the safest drinking water supplies in the world, new challenges, such as aging drinking water infrastructure, climate change impacts on water resource availability, chemical contamination of water sources, and the emergence of new ways to obtain and use water (e.g. water reuse, grey water, desalination), require us to remain vigilant to protect all aspects of our water supply.  See Complete resource here.

– EPA Resource Guides, Safe Drinking Water–
Information for kids, researchers, policy makers, homeowners, and well owners.

Come out and celebrate Earth Day’s 40th anniversary this weekend

Rain or Shine!

We need your help to clean the litter and trash from our rivers,  streams, parks, greenways and roadsides.  The Little River Watershed Association and Keep Blount Beautiful are hosting a county wide clean up on Saturday April 24th from 8am – 2pm.    Register at the Bicentennial Park Pavilion between 8am and 10am.   For a map to the Bicentennial Park Pavilion, Click Here. Morning clean-up volunteers will receive a free meal of hamburgers and hot dogs during the evening event on Maryville College Campus.   If you can’t participate in the morning clean up then join us for an evening festivities on  Maryville College Campus beginning at 5 pm.  For a map to Maryville College Campus, Click Here.

This  event is FREE for everyone!!!

Live music from:

Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, Allie Little and Friends , The Outdoor Sisters

We look forward to seeing you there!

Due to the forecast of a rainy weekend, the evening festivities have been moved to Cooper Athletic Center on Maryville College campus. For a map Click Here.

For more information please call 980-2130.

LRWA is Developing a

Volunteer Committee

Our immediate need for volunteers is to help with Earth Round-Up

during the Morning Clean Up and Evening Festivities.

For anyone interested in volunteering with our organization, we have a meeting scheduled for Thursday April 15th, 6:00pm at our office. The meeting will last about 30 minutes. Please RSVP if you’re interested in being a volunteer. If you can not attend this volunteer planning meeting, please let us know and we can accommodate you.

Volunteer positions available during

Earth Round-Up:

Morning Clean Up

- Check-In Tables

- Pick-Up trucks or trailer to collect trash

- Volunteer Coordinators

Evening Festivities on Maryville College Campus

- Set Up and Break Down
- Silent Auction
- LRWA’s Education Booth

Who: Everyone Welcome

What: Volunteer Planning Meeting

When: Thursday April, 15th 6:00-6:30pm

Where: LRWA’s Office

1006 East Lamar Alexander Parkway

Maryville, TN 37804

Our office is located in the County’s Environmental Health Building across the street from Blount Memorial Hospital.  Turn off of Lamar Alexander Parkway onto the road between the Thompson Brown Historical Log Cabin and Mountain National Bank.  Park behind the Log Cabin at the Blount County Historical Museum.  Our office is located just inside the Blount County Historical Museum.

Saturday April 24th

Check-In:  8-10 am

Location: Bicentennial Park Pavilion

Located beside Blount County Courthouse in Maryville

Pick up trash along the Little River, its tributaries, parks, greenways, school grounds and roadsides throughout Blount County.  We supply bags and gloves upon check-in and coordinate trash collection from clean up sites.

Everyone is welcome; individuals, families, businesses, groups of any size.

Groups can pre-register starting April 1st

Free food for all volunteers at Maryville College from 5-8pm.  Anyone invited to enjoy live music from Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, environmental booths, workshops & demonstrations, Eco-Sculpture exhibits, & a silent auction to support Keep Blount Beautiful & Little River Watershed Association.

To pre-register contact:  Charlene DeSha – Keep Blount Beautiful – 681-4809 or keepblo@earthlink.net

For more information:  Call Little River Watershed Association at 980-2130

Blount Friendly Landscaping Flyer 3-1-10

For our part, this was certainly a fundraising success.  This year has brought on tough economic times, but our loyal supporters have stuck it through and continue to contribute to our organization.  We are greatly appreciative of all donations, no matter how big or small!

Special thanks to Mrs. Kathy Wilbanks, LRWA staff, our fundraising committee, Event Sponsors, and the crew at Aiprot Hilton.  Everyone’s contribution to this ever-growing event is essential to its success.  We could not have done it without you.

Little River Watershed Association

2010 Winter Gala

Hilton Knoxville Airport

Grand Ballroom

Saturday March 6th 2010
6pm-9pm

Tickets $75 at the Door

Everyone is welcome!

To reserve your ticket call 980-2130

Live and Silent Auctions

Heavy hors d’ oeuvres & wine will be served

Live Music by: Abbe’s Equation

View Winter Gala Invitation as PDF

Just a few of our auction items include:

6 weeks of Yoga Classes from Mountain Yoga and Healing

2 Signed & Numbered Robert Tino Prints

Behind the scenes Tour of Tennessee State Capitol with Doug Overbey that includes:  lunch in the Legislative Cafeteria, a gift basket, and a one night Romance package at the Doubletree Hotel

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park 75^th Anniversary Rocking Chair is hand made by a 3^rd generation craftsman of chairs.  Randy Ogle constructed the rocker of solid maple and it has a hand woven seat.  This extremely limited edition rocker is a reproduction of a rocker made by Aden Carver and housed in the National Park’s historical artifact collection.  Just when it sounds like it couldn’t be anymore priceless, we are also throwing in a GSMNP throw blanket!

We would like to thank some of our donors for their wonderful additions to our auction!

LRWA Announces 2010  Winter Gala

Once a year the Little River Watershed Association plans an evening of music, food, and fun in order to raise the necessary funds to support our mission. We invite the community to join us for an evening of heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, live music, as well as a live and silent auction. Auction items include local artisan pieces, mountain getaways for two, antiques, and personalized kayaking and fishing trips plus more!  There will be plenty of great food, everything from tropical fruit and fresh vegetables to hardier servings of hand-carved roast beef.   We truly have something for everyone, and it always promises to be a great night out on the town for our supporters!

The 2010 Winter Gala will be held on March 6, 6:00 P.M. at the Airport Hilton. The cost of a ticket is $75. Tickets can be purchased by mailing a check to our office or can be purchased at the door.

If you are interested in being an event host, the cost is $250 for a couple or $125 for a single ticket. Hosts are printed in the event publications and receive acknowledgments the night of.  We are indebted to our hosts who pay a premium ticket price to guarantee a successful fundraiser. If you are interested in being a host, we have to have your R.S.V.P by January 25th in order to secure a place on the printed invitation.

We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions feel free to email or call.

snaildarter@littleriverwatershed.org or (865)980-2130

We would like to thank our event sponsors for their generous contributions!  Your support is vital to the success of our Winter Gala.

TWO TWENTY SIX CORPORATION

This clean-up is a great opportunity to come out and get re-acquainted with the Little River and our organization!

Group will meet on Old Walland Hwy, just past Walland Bridge on right at 10:00 am

Directions:

Take 321 North to Walland
Turn Left onto Old Walland Hwy.
Cross Walland Bridge
Park in gravel lot on right
(site of what used to be Eats by the Creek)

Guidelines:
Wear weather appropriate clothing
Parents must accompany children under 18

If it is raining or snowing heavily, the clean-up will be canceled.

We hope to see you there!!

Inspired by Earth Round-Up, members of Peck’s Memorial United Methodist Church decided last year to host a community-based Earth Day. There is no need to wait till next spring to put on your awareness hats & party pants because you can come out and enjoy food, games, children’s activities, & celebration of the earth this weekend. 

There will be on site recycling for:  newspaper, magazines, mixed paper, plastic (#s 1-7), aluminum, & cell phones.  Also, don’t forget to bring in your old mercury thermometers & get a free digital thermometer!

Saturday – October 10 – 11 am-2pm
Pecks Memorial United Methodist Church
2438 Wilkinson Pike
Maryville, TN 37803

Ran or shine we hope to see you there!!

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Old Timer’s Festival, Nawger Nob Arts & Crafts Fair, Little River Railroad Museum
September 25th & 26th (all day)
All Throughout Townsend – All Weekend!
Music, Dancing, and Traditional Demonstrations highlighting Appalachian Culture, Food, Local Arts and Crafts

The Commission recently re-instated some of the authorities of the Stormwater Department with respect to inspection and permitting of work sites.

See two recent articles here:

Grading Permit Changes and Floodplain Confusion

Blount Commission Approves Erosion Control Standards

The Little River Watershed Association would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of several events and activities worth supporting this weekend!

Tremont Homecoming & Dinner on the Grounds – Celebrating Four Decades of Changing Lives!!
Sunday, September 20th, 5-8 pm.
For more information go to: http://www.gsmit.org/homecoming.html

2009 Sunset Harvest Dinner to benefit the Maryville Farmer’s Market
Saturday, September 19th, Wine Tasting begins @ 5:30 pm.
For more information contact Elise Eustace at (865)-981-8326 or eeustace@foothillsland.org.

John Sevier Days
Sat. & Sun., September 19th & 20th.
The Stock Creek Task Force will have a booth at this event to educate citizens of projects/programs implemented on Stock Creek.  For more information go to:  http://www.ctvknox.org/john-sevier-days-marble-springs

Check out the above links to get details on food, live music, & how to reserve tickets.  Have a great weekend!

For more information contact:  Suzanne Ankrum or Penny Mitchell at 523-3800 or 850-5803.

All proceeds from ‘sandwich of the day’ will go to LRWA.

Get more details from the original post–
http://www.littleriverwatershed.org/?p=706

Thanks for your continued support!

See the full Maryville Daily Times article at this link:
Daily Times: Treatment Plant Update

 Yesterday we issued a website post announcing our participation in the Weston’s Seasons on the River – Summer Event.  Unfortunately, content published in the Maryville Real Estate Times on 6-26-09 was inconsistent with the agreement made between the event hosts and LRWA.  Due to this misunderstanding, LRWA’s liability is greatly increased and we have elected to discontinue our participation in the event.

 At this point, all family-oriented activities before mentioned will continue and we are not discouraging community members from participating in the Summer Event.  We sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience.

Join us July 9th at Maryville’s Tomato Head for LRWA’s Specialty Sandwich Day!
From 11am to 9:30pm, or until supplies last, 100% of Specialty Sandwich proceeds will go to the Little River Watershed Association.

Come one, come all – tell your friends – tell your neighbors – tell your coworkers–
Bring families and friends and enjoy some of Blount County’s finest foods while supporting our watershed!  Many thanks to Tomato Head, Scott Partin, & Tommy Bateman for their widespread community support, their dedication to sustainable business practices, and their continued support of LRWA.

Tomato Head Invitation

More about firefly ‘logistics’ in the Daily Times here:
Daily Times

More about Synchronous Fireflies at these links:

Park Service Press Release
Osgood File

When: 5/23/2009, 9/5/2009
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Townsend, TN
Townsend River Walk Near Nawger Nob
East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Townsend, TN 37882

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20090513/NEWS/305139976

In 2009 Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and the park has sanctioned Troutfest 2009 as a special 75th event.  See the Troutfest website for more information:
http://www.troutfest.org/index.htm

The Daily Times has an article today talking about the underwater cleanup and upcoming Earth Round UP events scheduled for Saturday.  On Tuesday, a team of divers from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and our own board member Edward Harper took part in the yearly underwater cleanup.  The divers were getting a jump on Saturday’s Earth Round-UP event, which includes both river and community-wide cleanups.

Article and photos here:

Daily Times Article

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, from 9 to 11 P.M. ET on PBS
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/

More than three decades after the Clean Water Act, iconic American waterways like the Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound are in perilous condition and facing new sources of contamination.  With polluted runoff still flowing in from industry, agriculture and massive suburban development, scientists note that many new pollutants and toxins from modern everyday life are already being found in the drinking water of millions of people across the country and pose a threat to fish, wildlife and, potentially, human health.

In FRONTLINE’s Poisoned Waters, airing Tuesday, April 21, 2009, from 9 to 11 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hedrick Smith examines the growing hazards to human health and the ecosystem.

“The ’70s were a lot about, ‘We’re the good guys; we’re the environmentalists; we’re going to go after the polluters,’ and it’s not really about that anymore,” Jay Manning, director of ecology for Washington state, tells FRONTLINE. “It’s about the way we all live. And unfortunately, we are all polluters. I am; you are; all of us are.”

Through interviews with scientists, environmental activists, corporate executives and average citizens impacted by the burgeoning pollution problem, Smith reveals startling new evidence that today’s growing environmental threat comes not from the giant industrial polluters of old, but from chemicals in consumers’ face creams, deodorants, prescription medicines and household cleaners that find their way into sewers, storm drains, and eventually into America’s waterways and drinking water.

“The environment has slipped off our radar screen because it’s not a hot crisis like the financial meltdown, war or terrorism,” Smith says. “But pollution is a ticking time bomb. It’s a chronic cancer that is slowly eating away the natural resources that are vital to our very lives.”

Reversing decades of pollution and preventing the irreversible annihilation of the nation’s waterways, however, will require a seismic shift in the way Americans live their lives and use natural resources, experts say.

“You have to change the way you live in the ecosystem and the place that you share with other living things,” says William Ruckelshaus, founding director of the Environmental Protection Agency. “You’ve got to learn to live in such a way that it doesn’t destroy other living things. It’s got to become part of our culture.”

Video Preview here:

USDA WILL RESTORE AND PROTECT FLOOD-PRONE LANDS NATIONWIDE WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING

(NASHVILLE)-Tennessee landowners have a chance of tapping into $145 Million set aside by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restore thousands of acres of frequently flooded land to its natural state. The funds are available through the floodplain easement component of the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the funds will restore land and create jobs since the money is part of recently passed legislation aimed at revitalizing the economy.

Landowners can sign up for the easements through April, 10th 2009 at their local USDA Service Center. “We will be working with landowners who voluntarily agree to restore the floodplains to their natural condition by placing their land into easements,” Vilsack said. “These easements will convert environmentally sensitive lands into riparian corridors and wooded bottomlands that are so vital for fish and wildlife habitat and to mitigate downstream flooding.” Vilsack said green jobs can be created in rural communities nationwide when landowners establish conservation practices on the easement land.

State Conservationist Kevin Brown, who directs the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Tennessee, says the job creation component of the measure benefits many fields of work. “Jobs will be created mostly in the land surveying, engineering, biology and construction fields when trees and native grasses are planted and the hydrology of the floodplain is restored,” Brown said. “Taxpayers will benefit from cleaner water and by no longer having to make crop disaster payments to producers who have experienced past crop failures due to flooding.”

The funding, obtained from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, includes both technical and financial assistance to restore the easements. All funds will be spent on targeted projects that can be completed with economic stimulus monies. The goal is to have all floodplain easements acquired and restored within 12-18 months. No more than $30 million can be spent in any one state.

Tennessee’s portion of the total $145 Million is not yet known. Brown says it depends on the level of interest among Tennessee landowners. “The dollars coming to Tennessee are contingent on the number of good applications we receive,” Brown said. “The more interest there is in Tennessee, the greater our portion of the $145 Million will be.”

The EWP Program’s floodplain easement component allows NRCS to purchase easements on lands damaged by flooding. The restored floodplain will generate many public benefits, such as increased flood protection, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, improved water quality, and a reduced need for future public disaster assistance. Other benefits include reduced energy consumption when certain agricultural activities and practices are eliminated and increased carbon sequestration as permanent vegetative cover is re-established.

Interested landowners can contact their local USDA Service Center for more information or visit
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp/Floodplain/index.html

The TN NRCS website also has information:
http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EWP/ewp-index.html

We have an opportunity of historic proportions to permanently protect the floodplains in the state. This funding will be available to individuals, state and local governments where land has been damaged by flooding once in the last 12 months or twice in the last 10 years. Land is also eligible if it would be inundated as a result of a dam breach.

Part of the ongoing ‘Earth Round-UP Day’ Festivities, there will be an Exhibition of art in Greenbelt Park (Mainly centered around Pistol Creek Station).  The Eco-Sculpture Exhibition was designed to coordinate with Earth Round-UP and help raise awareness within our community through large-scale environmental installations and sculpture. This event is coordinated by the Maryville Arts Coalition,  a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the aesthetic sensibility of our community through art programs and events. Visit the following website for more detail:

http://maryvilleartwalk.com/web/images/mac_eco_sculpture_prospectus_09.pdf

Take a leisurely stroll through the Greenbelt & view these amazing display of local art that speaks to our need for environmental awareness!

RIVER RESCUE LEADS NEEDED

Keep Blount Beautiful is still in need of leads for two areas of River Rescue: Singleton Boat Ramp on Topside Rd and International Harbor in Friendsville. River Rescue will be held Saturday, April 4th. Check in is located at Louisville Point Park from 9:30am-10am, clean up from 10am-12pm and lunch at Dockside Café starting at 12:30pm. The trash collected will need to be brought back to Louisville Park for a photo-op, so if you have a truck please bring it. No truck, no problem, I have one and we have a couple of volunteers with trucks if needed. Please contact Charlene at 681-4809 or keepblo@earthlink.net if you are available to help.

The Blount County commission voted to weaken current stormwater regulations regarding grading, erosion and sedimentation. The commission voted 14-3 to reduce the coverage area of the regulations to only apply within the urbanized areas of the county and to weaken them by only requiring grading permits for disturbing an acre or more of land. Commissioners Hasty, Murrell and Reeves voted no.

Cathy Rhodes, executive director of the Little River Watershed Assocation, had urged the commissioners to consider the possible effects on the county’s drinking water.  “As a private citizen, I have a right to clean water,” Rhodes said. “So does everyone in this room. As commissioners, you have the job of protecting the rights of everyone.”  Planning Director John Lamb said that half of all the subdivisions developed in the county were outside the municipal jurisdictions, including the Urban Growth Boundaries of the cities.  “Do not take steps backward from our commitment to water quality in the whole county,” Lamb said.

See the full Daily Times Article here.

–from the Event Website–

The Center for Strong Communities will host an International Film Festival on Water and Climate Change, to be held April 19-21 at Maryville College.  The Center for Strong Communities is working with LRWA and international partners to bring the festival to Maryville as a free event for the whole community.

The film festival aims to increase awareness and action regarding local and global issues around water and climate change. Three days of screenings and discussions will include short films and feature documentaries that have been honored at the Sundance Film Festival, World Water Forum, the Mumbai International Film Festival, and other distinctions.

Free and open to the public, the festival will include screenings of award-winning documentaries and short films from around the world that explore water resources, climate change, human rights, and a call to action human responsibility.

This is a wonderful example of Maryville College’s efforts to build a stronger, educated, & more aware community.  LRWA is proud to take part in this event.

All events will be held on the campus of Maryville College.  For more information see the event link and schedule:

• EVENT LINK

http://www.statesurge.com/category/47189-water-tennessee

We hope our website will provide you with accurate and thought provoking information about the Little River Watershed and the community we live in.  We believe that an informed and engaged community are the key to making this one of the best places to live and play.

Please look around and let us know if there is information that you would like for us to include on our website . We will constantly be adding new content in the months to come and welcome any and all comments about how to bring our citizens the best product that we can.

Thanks for visiting. Come back often!

Earth Round-UP 2008 was a tremendous success as Little River Round-UP and Airfest joined forces to create a brand new event, Earth Round-UP.  The event is organized by the Little River Watershed Association, Keep Blount Beautiful and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce Air Quality Team.  The Earth Round- UP consists of a morning clean-up event and afternoon celebration.

View Earth Round-UP Events in a larger map

Morning clean up:

From 8am-10am we will have a check-in at the Bicentennial Pavilion (behind the court house). You will receive your materials (bags, gloves) and be assigned a designated location that is in need of your personal TLC. We will either assign you a designated place to drop your trash or ask that you bring the trash back to the dumpsters & recycling bins located in the parking lot next to Bicentennial Pavilion, as we would like to get a weighed total of all waste collected in Blount County!

• Volunteers need to sign in, get some gloves and trash bags and receive an assigned location to pick up trash.  Boaters are welcomed and encouraged to participate in cleaning up of the banks of the Little River from the park boundary to the Little River embayment near Rockford.  Large groups can pre-register by calling Keep Blount Beautiful at 681-4809.
• Volunteers will receive a free dinner ticket for the evening event and reusable shopping bags.

Evening FunFest:

• From 5-8pm there will be more fun, music, food, and environmental education than you can bargain for! We have 20+ educational booths, vendors, activities for the kids, and live entertainment. If you volunteered in the morning clean-up, you will receive a ticket to eat dinner free and a free reusable shopping bag.
• The evening festivities will also include three bands–
  • Mountain Folk Reunion Band–5PM
  • Pistol Creek Catch of the Day–6PM
  • The Woodpickers–7PM

• Silent Auction: We also have lots of great donations from Little River Trading Company and Little River Outfitters that we will be auctioning off. Just about anything you might need in outdoor adventure gear, will be up for grabs. To these auction sponsors, we extend our sincerest appreciation for their ongoing support of our organization and this event!

Other Events Taking Place in Conjunction with the Earth Round-UP

Environmental Film Festival -  Focus:  Global Water Issues:  An Environmental Film Festival will also be held at  Maryville College.  See the link here.

Eco-Sculpture:  On display at the Greenbelt Park.  See the link here.

Call us, or email us  if you have any questions–and see YOU at the Earth Round-UP!

This event could not take place without these Sponsors:

Lead sponsor: Alcoa Inc.
Supporting Sponsors: Denso, Regional Clean Air Coalition, The Daily Times
Sponsor Friends: Blount Memorial Hospital, Blount County Government, TVA, Little River Trading Company, Spectra Recycling
Earth Round-Up Friends: First Tennessee Bank, Little River Outfitters, US Foods, Pepsi, Metropolitan Airport Authority Family
Children’s Area Sponsor: New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center

Tickets are $75.00 each and you can reserve a spot by calling our office at 980-2130 or sending a check to:

Little River Watershed Association
1006 East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Maryville, TN 37804

Please indicate how many tickets and the names of all attending for easy check in.

This year we will also have some competitive entertainment and the auction(s) are better than ever.  Here are some of the items:

• Lake Tellico Sunset Cruise and Islands Feast
• Lake Norris Cabin – (2) Night Stay
• Growing in the Art of Living–Joyce McCroskey Sculpture
• Riverbend – Little River Cabin
• Personal Chef
• “Late Summer’s Evening” by Robert Tino
• Cheeseburgers in Paradise
• Moonscape #2 – Turned Maple Bowl Dr. Clay Crowder
• Romantic Getaway for TWO – The Love Shack and dinner at Foothills Milling
• “Little River at Elkmont” by Susan Colclough
• (2) UT Football Tickets to Opening Game and Overnight Accommodations in Candy Factory Loft, Knoxville
• Cades Cove Wildflower Photo and Class by David Sawyer
• Discover the Smokies Introductory Flight School and (1) Aerial Photo
• Big Stuffed Black Bear

See the attached ‘PDF’ files for complete lists of the Live and Silent Auction items:

Silent Auction Items

Live Auction Items

Come to an educational meeting to have your questions answered. You will also have the opportunity to see a bird’s eye view of Little River Watershed and learn some facts about your watershed.

Two Events are Scheduled:

7pm – Wednesday, February 25, 2009 @ Townsend Visitor Center

7PM – Thursday, March 12, 2009 @ Blount County Public Library

Call Little River Watershed Association (980-2130) or Foothills Land Conservancy (681-8326) for more information.