A Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance committee began work last week on planning each year to give cash environmental awards to three local classrooms and a scholarship for a college student.

The group also learned that more streams in Greene County are considered “impaired” in some way. That information came from a new preliminary report of a federally-required state study.

Candy Adams, who represents Keep Greene Beautiful, and Wilhelmina Williams, representing Friends of the Nolichuckey River, were appointed to the awards committee.

Adams said she would like to see four awards each year: one for an elementary school classs, one for a middle school class , one for a high school class, and one at the college level.

The first three would go to teachers and classrooms, to help pay the cost of environmental projects, Adams said. The college award would go to a third-year or fourth-year student from Greene County majoring in an environmental field.

The Alliance board tentatively approved a plan for three $150 awards and a $250 scholarship, and asked Adams and Williams to report on progress next month.
Much of the meeting was in the form of reports.

Adams said the Alliance spent $850 to help with the recent fifth-grade students’ “Conservation Field Day” at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park, and spent $310 to help with costs of a canoe trip on the Nolichucky River, to make the public more aware of its condition and problems.

Fred Kaufmann, the Alliance’s chairman, said he appreciated Adams’ efforts on both projects, and said Clint Jones, of the Tennesee Valley Authority, and Doug Ratledge, of the Cedar Creek Learning Center, “did a really super-fine job” on the canoe trip.

He also praised The Greeneville Sun’s coverage of both events.
Adams said she had already received inquiries asking to know about the next time the group plans such a trip. No date has been set.

The canoe trip “goes along with our goals and mission,” Adams said, because it promotes public awareness and education. The same could be said for the field day,
Kaufmann noted.

55 ‘Impaired’ Streams

Paul Hayden, who represents the Greene County Soil Conservation District, reported that the 2002 preliminary list of streams that are considered impaired in some way lists 55 such streams in Greene County.

The report, prepared by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, is called a 303 (d) list.

The 1998 version of the same list had only five Greene County streams listed as “impaired.”

Kaufmann and others asked Hayden why he thinks the number is so much higher.
Kaufmann speculated that perhaps it is because more streams are being monitored than before, or because more sophisticated methods are being used.

Hayden, a retired engineer and former farmer, said he believes both factors are involved, but the findings mostly reflect “better sampling” and more awareness of the vulnerability of streams.

Hayden said he had so far not been able to obtain detailed information about the “impaired” streams cited in the report, but he said most of the problems involve increased levels of silt or nutrients, though a few streams have other kinds of problems.

Monitor 4 Local Streams

Hayden said he has submitted a grant proposal to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture that would let the Soil Conservation District monitor four Greene County streams over a five-year period, to see if “best management practices” such as denying cattle direct access to streams, will improve water quality over time.

Hayden said the five streams being considered are Gregg Creek in the southern part of the county near Caney Branch; Potters Creek (off Lick Creek); Sinking Creek; and Meadow Creek.

Hayden also reported that there are funds available to help local farmers with the cost of implementing practices that improve stream quality.

He said that when funding was offered a few years ago for the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) program, about 60 landowners signed up, and their surveys and plans remain on file.

Only five of the applications were approved and funded at that time, he said.
Funding for the EQIP program was renewed in 2002, he said, but “not much money” was included.

Hayden noted that one of the goals for the Watershed Alliance is to develop a five-year watershed plan.

Adams said the group needs to begin making a list of its accomplishments over the
last two years, and its goals as well, to use in the report and in efforts to obtain funding.