TCWN announces the winners of the Wilma Dykeman Prize for Essay Writing. The two winners are Leigh Stanfield of Soddy Daisy, TN for the prize in the 17 and under category and Arthur Stewart of Lenior City, TN for the prize in the 18 and over category.

“I am grateful to be a part of honoring Ms. Dykeman’s memory and works, and this year’s contest entries were excellent.”  Said, Janet King, Board member of TCWN. “The winners’ essays not only reflect Ms. Dykeman’s love of our natural resources, specifically water, but the writers also deserve recognition for their research and creativity.   I applaud TCWN’s commitment to sponsorship of this event.”

To find out more click here.

I just received an update from LEAF about the up or down vote on the Scenic Vistas Act that would protect Tennessee’s beautiful mountains from destruction while NOT discouraging other forms of mining. It’s a well written bill and is not hostile to mining as some are painting it to be.

Today Rep. McDonald asked for a vote, Rep McCord moved to adjourn.   A motion to adjourn overrides any pending motion. Rep McCord killed the vote on that bill.  The Committee then voted, 6 to 4, to adjourn. By invoking an obscure rule, the Sub-Committee closed its hearings for the year without voting either for or against the bill.

Many thanks to Rep. McDonald for faithfully sponsoring and supporting the bill.  Rep. McCord gets a thump on the head AGAIN.

RvH

That’s right, it’s World Water Day - the international day of recognition of the water initiatives from the UN meeting 18 years ago. Hundreds of events are hosted all around the world today to reinforce the ongoing efforts to conserve dwindling water supplies and protect water quality.  Nations are encouraged to use this day as a reminder to implement the UN recommendations to protect our waters.  Click here to learn more about World Water Day.

Use today to learn more about how you can work to protect water quality!

A landfill is proposed to be built near Oneida, TN and residents are concerned about its possible environmental impacts, specifically to the Bear Creek Watershed.  Citizens of Scott County are working hard to prevent any pollutants from running off into adjacent waters, already impaired from other pollutants.  We applaud the efforts of the residents of Scott County and look forward to continue to work with them to protect their community.  Click here to see TCWN’s comments on the proposed landfill.

As many of you know, a several years back the Supreme Court ruled on two cases which have created significant uncertainty as to what waters are protected under the Clean Water Act.  As a result, environmental groups around the nation have been working to eliminate the confusion and restore protection to our nation’s waters through gaining support for the Clean Water Restoration Act - a bill which would remove the confusing term “navigable” from the Act, make clear “waters of the United States” means those water bodies protected prior to 2001, and clarify Congress’s broad constitutional authority to protect such waters.

In a recent article, the New York Times highlighted some of the dangerous results of removing protection from smaller, unconnected water bodies, and noting an estimated “more than 1,500 major pollution investigations have been discontinued or shelved in the last four years.”  The lack of enforcement ability on behalf of the EPA and our states threatens our drinking water, wildlife, and recreational use of our streams.

Congress must act quickly to restore protection to our nation’s waters!