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HRWA Launches Harpeth River 2010 Flood Damage Assessment-- You can help! In addition to the extensive property damage and the loss of loved ones from May's record-setting flooding in middle TN, our waterways that we all enjoy and love sustained significant damage. The Harpeth River Watershed Association is organizing an assessment of damage, trash and debris along the State Scenic Harpeth River in conjunction with state and local governments and other organizations. We need your help to catalogue problems (on attached form) so that we can begin the process of safely and effectively addressing all the problems identified. We would love to hear from everyone that has seen problems in or near the river to report them to us. This can be along the main river or on streams. However, we are not encouraging anyone to go into unsafe areas or put themselves in harms way at all. If you know of a problem site, or have heard someone speak of a problem site, please forward us the information so we can compile a list. In addition to the information asked for on the report sheet, any pictures that you could send would be very helpful along with a description. We are interested in all types of potential problems, including sewage and possible hazardous materials. Please send completed forms and photos to Mike Cain, HRWA Watershed Assessment and Restoration Manager.
VOLUNTEERS Will be Needed FOR CLEAN-UPS HRWA will convene a group of state and local officials and experts to determine the best way to deal with all the problem areas that have been identified and coordinate response efforts. We will be organizing volunteers to help address the needs of trash and debris cleanup and streambank erosion. Contact HRWA if you want to be notified of volunteer river clean-up and restoration projects and if you would like to lead these efforts that will be upcoming as we focus on helping to recover and restore the Harpeth River. In many places, the flood waters knocked down entire forested areas along the river and created numerous mud slides. Piles of debris have blocked the river. We need to coordinate a network of people that can keep an eye on areas around the Harpeth River so we can organize clean-up and restoration efforts on a regular basis for the next several years. The Harpeth River is a favorite river in the Nashville region for paddling, fishing and swimming. The Harpeth is Nashville's State Scenic River! We need a sustained flood recovery effort for the river to reduce hazards for recreational enjoyment and to protect water quality and important habitat for fish!
REPORT A RIVER EMERGENCYIf you see a fish kill of any size, chemicals spilling into any drainage way, or mud coming off a construction site, report it immediately to the TN Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC):Call 1-888-891-TDEC (8332) 24 hours a day It takes quick action to gather the information to determine the source of the problem and to contain a pollution risk. TDEC and other state agencies have a system to respond, so don’t hesitate to call any time of day, and leave a message if it is after hours. A quick response is vital to effective law enforcement. If you suspect someone is pulling water out of the river without a permit, please call Joey Holland at the TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation: 615-687-7020. For mud running off construction sites, local governments have regulations on erosion control and stormwater runoff and will respond first. Please call: City of Franklin: 791-3218 City of Brentwood: 371-0080 Williamson County: 790-5608 Davidson County (for Bellevue): 880-2420 City of Dickson: 441-9506 If possible, take a dated photograph, jot down as much detail as possible, and provide it to TDEC, the local government if appropriate, and to HRWA so we can follow-up! BE SAFE: Do NOT trespass and do NOT get near any situation involving a chemical spill. |