The Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance on Wednesday heard reports on several projects, and worked on plans to improve the public's awareness of water quality issues.
Tim Armstrong, the Alliance's chairman, reported that "progress is being made" on several fronts in the group's efforts to obtain permanent, legal road access to the county-owned, 40-acre wetlands near the Wal-Mart Regional Distribution Center.
Armstrong declined to provide the board with details of ongoing negotiations.
The Alliance, a group of organizations and individuals interested in maintaining and upgrading water quality, has agreed to help the Greene County Fishing & Hunting Club maintain the wetlands. The wetlands were created by Greene County on donated land, to offset a smaller area of natural wetlands that were destroyed when the large Wal-Mart facility was built about six years ago.
The wetlands project was necessary to satisfy state and federal environmental regulations.
The Fishing & Hunting Club has a lease on the property from Greene County, and has agreed to maintain it, but is having difficulty because log and earth dams that were designed to back up water over a large area are failing, the Alliance has been told.
John B. Jones, a TVA representative on the Alliance board, said the eventual goal is to have the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) take over the wetlands area for use as an outdoor classroom.
TWRA Acquiring Land
James McAfee, of TWRA told the group that his agency is willing to participate, if the wetlands can be opened to the public.
TWRA is in the process of acquiring several thousand acres of bottom land drained by Lick Creek, in the Midway area, very close to the Wal-Mart site. TWRA intends to develop the area into a protected natural stopover area for the thousands of migratory birds that fly through this region each year, because Greene County is in the path of a major migratory bird "flyway."
Report On Creek Cleanup
The board also heard a report on last Saturday's successful cleanup along Holley Creek, near the Greeneville Commons, when 7,000 pounds of trash were picked up by about 40 volunteers.
Armstrong said the cleanup was the second annual event.
Evan Moquah, of Madison County, N.C., attended the meeting, and asked the board for ideas about how to protect the Laurel River there from sediment and trash. Moquah, who lives along the river, was given the names of several contacts, and encouraged to continue his efforts.
Alice Loftin, of the Greeneville chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, said she would like to see the Alliance sponsor an educational event for developers, to encourage "best management practices" related to land development.
Cheryl Summers, representing the Cherokee National Forest, said she would also like to see such an event, possibly a breakfast with an outside speaker who could show and tell local developers and citizens about successful practices used elsewhere.
McAfee said that informing local developers and land owners about "environmentally friendly practices" that are in use elsewhere is probably a good idea, on a continuing basis.
Summers said she would make contacts to try to find a list of possible speakers.
The Alliance meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month in the conference room of the Courthouse Office Annex, on Cutler Street.
Tim Armstrong, the Alliance's chairman, reported that "progress is being made" on several fronts in the group's efforts to obtain permanent, legal road access to the county-owned, 40-acre wetlands near the Wal-Mart Regional Distribution Center.
Armstrong declined to provide the board with details of ongoing negotiations.
The Alliance, a group of organizations and individuals interested in maintaining and upgrading water quality, has agreed to help the Greene County Fishing & Hunting Club maintain the wetlands. The wetlands were created by Greene County on donated land, to offset a smaller area of natural wetlands that were destroyed when the large Wal-Mart facility was built about six years ago.
The wetlands project was necessary to satisfy state and federal environmental regulations.
The Fishing & Hunting Club has a lease on the property from Greene County, and has agreed to maintain it, but is having difficulty because log and earth dams that were designed to back up water over a large area are failing, the Alliance has been told.
John B. Jones, a TVA representative on the Alliance board, said the eventual goal is to have the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) take over the wetlands area for use as an outdoor classroom.
TWRA Acquiring Land
James McAfee, of TWRA told the group that his agency is willing to participate, if the wetlands can be opened to the public.
TWRA is in the process of acquiring several thousand acres of bottom land drained by Lick Creek, in the Midway area, very close to the Wal-Mart site. TWRA intends to develop the area into a protected natural stopover area for the thousands of migratory birds that fly through this region each year, because Greene County is in the path of a major migratory bird "flyway."
Report On Creek Cleanup
The board also heard a report on last Saturday's successful cleanup along Holley Creek, near the Greeneville Commons, when 7,000 pounds of trash were picked up by about 40 volunteers.
Armstrong said the cleanup was the second annual event.
Evan Moquah, of Madison County, N.C., attended the meeting, and asked the board for ideas about how to protect the Laurel River there from sediment and trash. Moquah, who lives along the river, was given the names of several contacts, and encouraged to continue his efforts.
Alice Loftin, of the Greeneville chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society, said she would like to see the Alliance sponsor an educational event for developers, to encourage "best management practices" related to land development.
Cheryl Summers, representing the Cherokee National Forest, said she would also like to see such an event, possibly a breakfast with an outside speaker who could show and tell local developers and citizens about successful practices used elsewhere.
McAfee said that informing local developers and land owners about "environmentally friendly practices" that are in use elsewhere is probably a good idea, on a continuing basis.
Summers said she would make contacts to try to find a list of possible speakers.
The Alliance meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month in the conference room of the Courthouse Office Annex, on Cutler Street.
For more information and stories, see The Greeneville Sun.
