Thursday, 08/09/07

New coalition vows to protect Harpeth River

FRANKLIN — The long-troubled Harpeth River may get more attention in the future after an apparently historic agreement among state, county and city officials this week.

The plan, which officials said was the first of its kind, may mean money from projects that affect the Harpeth River could be specifically set aside to be used to restore the river, said Dorie Bolze, executive director of Harpeth River Watershed Association.

"You have a diverse group of players that want to do this together," Bolze said. "You start putting the players together, you can rock 'n roll on some serious pollution cleanup."

About 44 miles of the Harpeth in Williamson County and 203 creek miles flowing into the river are impaired, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Under a blazing sun and over a slow-moving current, officials from three levels of government on Tuesday signed an agreement to help protect the Harpeth River.

Standing on a bridge that crosses the river in Franklin's Pinkerton Park, Franklin Mayor Tom Miller, Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson and Paul Sloan, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, lauded the agreement as a way to identify and plan projects that will improve water quality.

Deal creates opportunity

"The Harpeth River is a very important and integral part of this community," Miller said. "This partnership allows us the opportunity to restore the Harpeth and its tributaries as development occurs throughout the region and also allows all of us to work together to ensure the river's well being."

The agreement stipulates that officials from Franklin, Williamson County and TDEC will meet quarterly to review and update a list of projects that address water quality and restoration of stream banks.

City Administrator Jay Johnson said the idea to form this partnership came after discovering that chemicals from a paint manufacturing plant had been leaking into Liberty Creek, which flows into the Harpeth River.

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