Without a concerted effort on all our parts to protect the waters we live with and love, we face losing our waters for future generations to enjoy. Our 2006 Bill Russell River Hero nominees are a few of the many that work to bring the public together, to hold polluters accountable and make government take action to protect our waters. We applaud their successes in protecting the waters of Tennessee by honoring them as our 2006 River Champions.
Judy’s personal mission statement is to explain to the non-science-oriented persons of the public the importance of and methods for ensuring clean water now and fort he future. In 1996, she began involvement with the Water Education Team (WET) Program, a hands-on water education program for students.
Judy also volunteers her time to promote the art of fly fishing to youth and adults at various community events such as the Great Outdoors Festival, the Boy Scouts of America Scoutbase, and the St. Jude’s “Hooked on a Cure” Celebrity Flyfishing Classic.
John Brittle is a realtor and the president of Seven Springs Neighborhood Association in Brentwood, Tennessee. Brittle led the fight against an irresponsible developer destroying a perennial, unnamed stream that leads into Seven Mile Creek for the construction of a strip shopping center. John gained the support of the media, state and federal environmental agencies, and brought together over 800 neighbors in a successful court case against the defender. John Brittle’s valiant efforts to save over 500 feet of this stream from the negative effects of development shows his dedication and determination to preserving and maintaining the natural beauty of Tennessee streams.
J.R. Shute and Pat Rakes are active scientists who do not hesitate to speak out against the “powers that be.” They are humble men who love what they do, which is work for their non-profit organization, Conservation Fisheries, Inc (CFI). CFI, incorporated in 1992, is a small non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems in the southeastern United States, concentrating on the conservation and recovery of rare freshwater fishes using captive propagation, habitat assessment, and low impact monitoring techniques to achieve these goals.
Among their accomplishments, CFI has successfully reintroduced three federally listed endangered and threatened fish species in Abrams Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is involved in reintroduction and restoration projects in the Tellico River, Shoal Creek, and several springs located on the Barrens Plateau of middle Tennessee. Conservation Fisheries, Inc. has been recognized with the Aquatic Resources Conservation Award from TDEC, the USFWS Regional Director’s Award, and the U.S. Forest Service Rise to the Future Collaborative Aquatic Resource Stewardship Award.
Dixie Couts has been actively involved in watershed protection, restoration and conservation for the past five years. In 2001, Dixie Couts helped found the Red River Watershed Association (RRWA), and has served as the organization’s Vice President of Communications and an RRWA Board member. He has dedicated considerable time, energy and personal resources to protect and restore several streams in Robertson County as well as waters beyond the Red River Watershed, as evidenced by his membership and support of the Harpeth River Watershed Association, Cumberland River Compact, and Tennessee Clean Water Network.
A long-standing resident of Springfield, Tennessee in Robertson County, Dixie Couts has made significant efforts to make his hometown community a better place to live. Mr. Couts’ outstanding personal and financial contributions are leading to positive changes in the quality and quantity of waters in the Red River Watershed. Through his actions, Mr. Couts I diligently working to protect and enhance the community’s most valuable and threatened natural resource.
Kathy Krone is a news reporter whose career and focus has been environmental issues for twenty years. For the last ten years, she has been a reporter with the State Gazette in Dyersburg, during which time she has gained a solid reputation as a reported dedicated to all important environmental issues affecting rivers and wetlands in Northwest Tennessee. She also has the respect and reputation among natural resource managers, environmental regulators, and conservationists as a reliable, thorough, discrete and accurate reporter in all of her news articles. She has written numerous articles about the Obion and Forked Deer Rivers, Reelfoot Lake, Black Swamp and Stokes Creek, among many others.
James McMillan, a full-time farmer in Knoxville, realized his farm was being destroyed by unchecked development causing severe erosion and sedimentation, and took action. Over the last few years, James has studied the laws, regulations, policies, and practices that impact our natural resources. He has spent hours documenting violations of local developments and notifying the regulating authorities, resulting in the issue of several Notices of Violation. James has become a spokesman for many citizens who find themselves at the mercy of those who would disregard our property and water resources, and spends hours visiting with individuals who need help with a complex system of laws, regulations, and politically favored developers. James has worked tirelessly to improve conditions of Knox County streams and to prevent flooding and damage to property due to inadequate enforcement of local and state laws.
Nelson Ross, Executive Director of the Tennessee Izaak Walton League, ahs been involved in environmental issues since the 1960’s when he first spoke with his high school biology class about pollution in the local river by the town’s largest industry. In 1985, Nelson founded the Dead Pigeon River Council (DPRC) to address the century-long pollution of the Pigeon River by the Champion paper mill in Canton, North Carolina. IN 2000, Nelson founded, promoted, and developed the Tennessee Izaak Walton League Clean Water Center, which is responsible for improved water quality in the greater Knoxville area. Nelson’s selfless endeavors to make the waters of Tennessee a cleaner place and his efforts to promote public awareness are immeasurable.
Barry Sulkin, Director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and former director of enforcement for water pollution control with the state, ahs continued to lead the effort in Tennessee to enforce the laws protecting water bodies. He is recognized not only in Tennessee, but also across the country as an expert who will work tirelessly to prevent water pollution. His work has helped to stop destructive permits from being issued, documented incidents of pollution, and has been instrumental in improving environmental rules/regulations in Tennessee.