Heart of the Harpeth
Campaign
Harpeth River Watershed Association Partners with Natural Resources Conservation Service to Protect “Heart of the Harpeth”.
Public Meeting Tuesday, September 30th 6:00 PM
The public is invited to attend a presentation by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) summarizing the new Farm Bill and highlighting conservation program opportunities for middle Tennessee landowners. Funding sources for conservation practices will also be discussed. NRCS, a part of the United States Department of Agriculture, provides leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science suited to a customer's specific needs and provide financial assistance for many conservation activities. Participation in their numerous programs is voluntary.
The meeting will be held
Tuesday, September 30th at 6:00 pm at the Hillsboro-Leipers Fork Community Recreation Center at 5325 Old Hwy. 96 West Franklin, TN 37064. Read the Press Release for future meeting dates.
This community meeting, hosted by the Harpeth Watershed Association (HRWA), is one of a series being held this fall as part of the Association’s “Heart of the Harpeth” Campaign. The goal of the Campaign is to enable citizens in one of the most densely forested and ecologically significant areas of Middle Tennessee to work together to discuss ways to preserve the water quality, open space, and rural way of life in this important section of the Harpeth River Watershed. The Heart of the Harpeth includes the communities of Fairview, Fernvale, Thompson’s Station, Leiper’s Fork, Burwood, Boston and Kingston Springs. The meeting is open to all who live, work or recreate in these areas.
The Heart of the Harpeth
The “Heart of the Harpeth” Campaign is an effort to protect some of the most densely forested terrain, valuable farmland, and highest quality waters in Middle Tennessee. The Campaign is focused on the region through which the South and West rivers and Turnbull and Brush creeks flow in parts of Williamson, Davidson, Cheatham and Dickson counties and includes
the communities of Fairview, Fernvale, Thompson’s Station, Leiper’s Fork, Burwood, Boston and Kingston Springs.
As part of this effort to preserve water quality, open space and rural way of life in this important section of the Harpeth River Watershed, the Harpeth River Watershed Association (HRWA) is requesting public input and hosting a series of community meetings through Fall 2008 to enable citizens to work together to preserve and restore water quality in the region. These meetings are open to all who live, work or recreate in the area. One goal of these meetings will be to collaboratively develop strategies or recommendations for preserving and restoring water quality and the rural landscape. These recommendations will be included in watershed management plans for the South and West Harpeth that HRWA has received funding from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Program to develop. Please make plans to attend a series of three meetings over the next six months to provide input on key issues and problems in the watershed and help to devise strategies for preserving and enhancing water quality in your area.
The South Harpeth is the most pristine river in Middle Tennessee. According to the Nature Conservancy, the outstanding plant and animal diversity of the watershed, as well as its high water quality are unparalleled in the region. Studies by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation show that rare plant species such as Grass of Parnassus and the Eggert’s sunflower, as well as a diverse group of reptiles and amphibians can be found there. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency data and fishing enthusiasts agree that these streams are excellent fisheries for bass, bluegill and a variety of other species. The land in this area is also some of the most archaeologically and historically significant in Tennessee, with the Natchez Trace National Parkway running through it. The three main streams, the South, the West and Turnbull, all flow into the main Harpeth in Cheatham County at the Harpeth River State Park, significant for its breathtaking bluff views, the Montgomery Bell tunnel, and the Mound Bottom, the remains of a native American village that dates back to the Mississippian period and is the largest prehistoric archaeological site along the Harpeth River. The West Harpeth River faces challenges from excess sediment, nutrients and E. coli bacteria.
Just as country music is an enduring part of Nashville’s heritage, so are magnificent landscapes and flowing rivers. Your attendance is critical and your opinions are needed to improve water quality.
