Dam to be removed on Stones River

The Tennessee Healthy Watershed Initiative announced its plans to fund nine new watershed improvement and protection projects including one on Stones River.

 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was awarded $35,000 for the removal of the Brown's Mill lowhead dam on the East Fork of the Stones River.  

More than $750,000 in funding will support several strategic investment areas of the Tennessee Healthy Watershed Initiative, and the projects will be implemented across the state beginning January 2013 through June 2014. 

"Today's announcement reflects the initiative's approach to ensure that Tennessee's bountiful streams and rivers are managed to conserve the native species, natural plant communities, and ecosystems found in and along river systems while continuing to meet the increasing needs of our communities," said Gina Hancock, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee. 

Today's projects also join a second effort in Lebanon, Tenn., at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center and Fairgrounds, including implementation of a pervious parking area, rain gardens, wetlands, and other techniques to capture and clean stormwater on site before it enters Tennessee's waters. This site will also be available as an educational facility for Tennessee citizens interested in learning about the benefits of these techniques and how to implement similar efforts in their own communities.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned at this particular site December 18, 2012, with details to be announced at a later date. 

The Tennessee Watershed Healthy Initiative has completed a three-year operational plan, which includes providing flexible funding for innovative projects across the state; planning for secure funding for the Initiative into the future; and promoting communication, collaboration, and thoughtful water resources planning among a broad partnership of agencies and stakeholders.

To learn more about the Tennessee Healthy Watershed Initiative and for a detailed summary of today's projects and those funded to date, please visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/thwi/.