In April, President Obama announced the creation of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative – now it’s our chance to weigh in.

The President’s Initiative is a critical opportunity to enhance the stewardship of our nation’s rivers and increase ways for the public to enjoy them.  The Obama administration is reaching out to the public to listen to our priorities. In their own words, the administration aims “to develop a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors.”

We’re working with American Rivers to get Obama to take bold action as well. Specifically, we’re asking the Administration to: (1) launch a new Blueways Initiative to improve recreation and protect river corridors; (2) designate more places as wild and scenic rivers and as wilderness; and (3) fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a national matching fund for parks and conservation.

The listening session is scheduled for Nashville on August 27, 10:00 a.m. at the Main Branch of the Nashville Public Library.

To learn more about this session, click here.

Learn more about Blueways which include water trails.
http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/blue-trails/

Learn more about the President’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative
http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Americas-Great-Outdoors-Video.cfm

Mercury has contaminated Beech Creek in Wayne County making the fish in the stream dangerous to eat and recreation in the water a threat to human health.  Beech Creek is a direct tributary to the Tennessee River as it enters the state from Alabama.  TDEC is still investigating the cause and will be updating the public.  Click here to read the full story in the Tennessean.

According to TDEC a Weakley County hog farmer intentionally pumped out his waste lagoon into Little Cypress Creek causing a fish kill and turning the rural creek an odd red color.  This blatant destruction of the stream eliminated all dissolved oxygen, creating a situation in which nothing can live in the creek for now.  TDEC is taking the appropriate measures and warning residents to avoid contact with the water.  It’s unfortunate one farmer’s irresponsible actions have such lasting repercussions.  Read the full story.

Last week TDEC finalized the changes to the general Aquatic Resource Alteration Permits (ARAPs).  These ARAPs are for smaller, less impacing projects proposing to physically impact waters of the state and do not require mitigation.  As is typical, TCWN submitted comments when the draft permits were put on public notice.  We had some minor success in response to our comments.  The overall problem with these general permits is their use on smaller aspects of large projects.  For example, using a general permit for multiple small road crossing in a project impacting thousands of feet of stream covering several acres.  The result can be hundreds of feet of stream lost without any mitigation.

Well, TDEC agreed “with the intent of not using the general permits in incremental means to allow larger alterations.”  Additional language will be put in the general ARAP for road crossings so the permit is not used in such a way.  A small step, but a very important one to prevent unmitigated, permanent loss of our important water resources.  Click here to see TDEC’s response to all comments.

Last week EPA announced its intent “to propose a limited set of targeted changes to the water quality standards regulation.”  According to the Agency this is an effort to improve water quality.  To learn more, go to EPA’s website.

There will also be listening sessions for the public August 24 and 26.