RCWA flier asks stakeholders to request a public hearing for NRS12.236 — Permit to continue using Richland Creek for irrigating McCabe Park golf course

Get flier (pdf) here.

IMPORTANT CITIZEN INFORMATION AND ACTION TO SAVE RICHLAND CREEK

Position of the Richland Creek Watershed Alliance — Public Notice NRS12.236

Acronyms TDEC – TN Dept of Environment & Conservation WPC – Water Pollution Control TWRA – TN Wildlife Resources Agency ARAP – aquatic resource alteration permit RCWA – Richland Creek Watershed Alliance cfs – cubic feet per second

TDEC PUBLIC NOTICE #NRS12.236 — Metro Parks application for an aquatic resource alteration permit to authorize continued withdrawal of water from Richland Creek for irrigation purposes in connection with the operation of its McCabe Park Golf Course.

TDEC WPC Division determined, in accordance with Tennessee’s water quality standards that approval of the proposed activity will result in degradation.

Links for TDEC Public Notice, file # NRS12.236 and Metro Parks application NRS12.236.

Public Comment Period is May 28- June 28, 2013.

FIRST and NOW – Request from TDEC to hold a public hearing for ARAP application (#NRS12.236) about water quality of Richland Creek.  Put your request in writing, and include permit number (NRS12.236), your name and your address, the reason you believe a hearing is needed, and the water quality issue you have interest-in or concern.  Send your request and/or comment to TDEC and address to:

Robert Baker TDEC Division of Water Pollution Control, Natural Resources Section 7th Floor L & C Annex 401 Church Street Nashville, TN 37243

If TDEC Commissioner holds a Public Hearing, citizens can ask questions and/or share a water quality concern at the hearing and still submit comments up to 10 days later.

_______________________________________________________________

RCWA POSITION #1:  A PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD BE HELD.

The withdrawal of water from Richland Creek at McCabe Park has been under the grandfathered-in provision for forty years without any public scrutiny.  RCWA believes it is in the pubic interest to hold a public hearing and requests a TDEC Public Hearing be held to help better inform the public of water quality issues: whether mitigation proposed under permit NRS12.236, if approved, would better support the resources classified uses, and to better understand how Metro Parks’ proposed plan would improve or impact water quality.

 

RCWA POSITION #2 - RCWA OPPOSES APPROVAL OF ARAP NRS12.236.

The proposed activity has occurred since 1973, and caused cumulative impact, long-term harm, loss of value to resource (Richland Creek), and degraded its habitat and biological diversity (TWRA instream flow study - 2011). Applicant has not presented any scientific study to show a greater value would result from the proposed mitigation concept plan. Withdrawal of water from Richland Creek has caused water pollution and prevented resource water quality standards to be sustained (RCWA 2011 Dissolved Oxygen Study for McCabe Park).  Cease of water withdrawal would allow for removal of low head dam structure, necessary to operate activity, and provide full recovery of resources’ classified uses (fish and aquatic life, recreation).  Use of larger resource, the Cumberland River, for irrigation purposes through Metro Water Services is feasible without loss of benefit, and enables long-term restoration of the resource to begin that would provide more public benefit than the mitigation proposed in the Metro Park permit application (NRS12.236).  The RCWA 2011 Dissolved Oxygen Study Report has been included with this public submission.

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CLARIFICATION OF RCWA POSITION - OPPOSE APPROVAL OF #NRS12.236:

1) Richland Creek is on the federal impaired list for water pollution.  According to Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, once a stream has been placed on the impaired List, it is to be considered a priority for water quality improvement. The activity at McCabe Park has been a major contributor to Richland's poor water quality under the grandfathered-in provision. In part, the immense water withdrawal (27 million gallons) annually by Metro Parks reduces dilution factor and raises concentration of resource pollutants and constituents caused by urban pollution. Now is the opportunity to provide sustained and measurable water quality improvement to Richland Creek, through returning natural flow.  This resource is part of the hydrologic (water) cycle, and a contributor to Cumberland River’s water quality. Improvement to water quality for this resource would help enhance the quality of a regional drinking-water supply (Cumberland River) that is a valuable public benefit and important community resource.  Approval of proposed activity would prolong 303(d) listing of Richland Creek, and the mitigation plan presented does not present any scientific study or information showing how measurable water quality improvement would occur.

2) To operate the water-use activity at McCabe Park a low-head dam, storage tank and impoundment is required. Discharge of urban run-off to creek, its constituents and pollutants are stored behind dam, allowing for continual and sustained mixing of non-point source pollution with freshwater flow of resource. The lake-like environment, (impoundment) impairs water quality and degrades stream habitat, enabling native species to become outnumbered by more pollution-tolerant species (TWRA instream flow study 2011).  Cumulatively and collectively, the water-use activity and its structures have been a contributor to water pollution, degradation to fish and aquatic habitat, and cause lost diversity of native stream species. Permit approval would authorize sustained pollution and degradation of Richland Creek.  Richland Creek discharge cannot continue to support irrigation of 27 million gallons annually for McCabe Park Golf Course, and doing so would prohibit full support of the resource’s designated uses, specifically the more stringent standard, fish and aquatic life. Water withdrawal and its associated structures, required to operate activity, would continue prolonged degradation and create condition for sustained water pollution.

3) The low head dam at McCabe Park and the water withdrawal from Richland Creek have caused two classified uses not to be fully supported — fish and aquatic life, and recreation.  General Water Quality Criteria, Chapter 1200-040-03 of Tennessee Water Pollution Control Rules state since all Waters of the State are classified for more than one use, the most stringent criteria will be applicable; and in cases of protection for more than one use apply at different stream flows, the most protective will also be applicable.  The irrigation use is fully supported, but the more stringent criterion of fish and aquatic life has not been supported for many years.  Support of fish and aquatic life use would provide more recreational choices and benefit to the public, such as fishing, wildlife watching, and paddling.

4) RCWA evaluated the dissolved oxygen levels of Richland Creek in 2011 at McCabe Park and found that 17% of all the dissolved oxygen results collected during three 24-hour periods were below the 5.0 mg/L standard. The diurnal fluctuations observed were presumed man-made and caused by the water-use activity. The study suggested a more thorough scientific evaluation for McCabe Park is warranted for the study area (impoundment and downstream from withdrawal point) for fish and aquatic life criteria and to determine the adverse impacts caused by the continued water withdrawal and its associated structures, which are required to operate the activity.  The RCWA 2011 Dissolved Oxygen Study Report is included with this public comment submission.

5) The Tennessee Antidegradation Statement requires that if waters are impaired, no additional degradation may be allowed, but can be rendered de minimis through in-system mitigation, or exempt if of short duration.  This water-use activity is not of short duration, and RCWA will not interpret whether the continued activity as proposed is de minimis, but questions the method used to determine magnitude of impact, what the discharge at McCabe Park is, and how much water is safe to withdraw.  The USGS stream gage at Charlotte Pike is two-miles downstream from the withdrawal point. The Charlotte Pike stream gage should not be used because it is too far away and receives flow from a branch that is close by that would skew interpretation of discharge. Approximately 100 feet upstream from the USGS steam gage is the confluence of the Neighborly Branch resource that contributes a measurable flow to Richland Creek. Determining when to withdraw water from Richland, especially during lower flow periods using the USGS stream gage would not provide accurate discharge of the upstream withdrawal point (McCabe Park).  A streamflow monitor would need to be installed closer and below withdrawal point to accurately and precisely measure discharge (cfs), to determine what is a safe amount of withdrawal, and to evaluate whether it is de minimis, or not.

6) RCWA believes that now is the time for long-term restoration planning for Richland Creek to be implemented, and that the resource has not received adequate consideration or ample protection. This public notice is timely to apply such a plan and to provide an opportunity for community support to restore this water resource to a more healthy state. There are thousands of citizens who use the park resource for recreation (golf, greenway and wildlife appreciation) who are unaware of the water-use activity occurring, or who do not fully understand the adverse impact it has caused.  Richland Creek is a well-known and appreciated resource, which RCWA has discovered firsthand over the last five years as we have worked to improve and restore the stream and educate about stream and water conservation through our community outreach activities.

RCWA believes if the natural flow were fully restored to Richland Creek, it could support fish and aquatic life again and also provide more recreational uses for community benefit and enjoyment.   Because of Richland Creek's high visibility, restoration of stream would also provide significant educational opportunities for the public to better understand water and stream conservation, while watching the stream transform from an impaired resource to a more natural state.  Restoration of Richland could have immeasurable and long-term benefits locally and regionally.

7) RCWA believes McCabe Park could minimally increase its golfing fee and still remain an affordable golf course for the average person.  Using the applicant’s application and Metro Water Services residential fees, RCWA calculated the use of the larger and alternative water resource (Cumberland River) to irrigate the golf course is affordable.  Using information that Metro Parks provided, RCWA calculated the use of Metro Water for irrigation of McCabe Park Golf Course is feasible and would eliminate the need to withdraw water from Richland Creek.  By adding only $1.00 to each 9-hole round of golf to the long-standing fee at McCabe ($12 weekdays and $13 on weekends), there would be no significant impact to the public golfing community, but instead, patrons would most likely appreciate knowing they are restoring and saving a water resource with a minimal increase in fee ($1.00 per golf round).

Metro Parks reported 85,379 rounds of golf were played at McCabe Park last year and an average of 78,000 rounds per year over the past five years. RCWA used conservative numbers for calculation and did not include other revenue, such as the cart and driving range fees.   

ANNUAL EXPENSE ($81,000)

(Gallons of water used annually) x (Cost per gallon of water from MWS) = Annual expense to irrigate with Metro water

(27M gallons) x ($.003) = $81,000

ANNUAL REVENUE ($78,000)

(Additional $1 charge per 9-hole round of golf) x (Average number of rounds annually)

($1) x (78,000) = $78,000

The additional expense to use Metro Water appears very feasible, and cost of irrigation reasonably offset by the $1.00 fee increase per round of golf at McCabe. Metro Parks should restore and save Richland Creek with a fee increase to fully support the cost of its facility’s operation.  

A water conservation method could also be applied that would benefit McCabe Park cost.  Installation of moisture sensors to determine irrigation need would conserve water and wasted water fees. RCWA has observed on several occasions irrigation occurring during rain events, which would be eliminated with installation of rain or moisture sensors.

8) There is more public benefit by restoration of Richland Creek than there is not restoring it to a natural state. Besides fully supporting its classified uses, long lasting cultural value could be gained that may provide economic benefit. Saving an urban stream is no small feat, but it would attract visitors to a story, not often told — an urban freshwater stream is restored.  Richland Creek, once coined “the western edge of civilization” could become a pride of place for locals as we move toward Nashville’s goal of becoming the greenest city in the Southeast.  The historical mentions of Richland Creek in Nashville early development are not often recounted today, but it could become a custom that would produce environmental, economic, educational and cultural benefits.

Removal of the McCabe Park impoundment could produce public safety benefit by reducing flash flooding upstream and potentially provide more flood storage for the Richland Creek watershed.  Collectively, these benefits could enthuse more stream conservation planning for Nashville, and streams would be valued as a resource rather than only a conduit for storm water. The benefits of restoration of Richland Creek far outweigh the benefit from irrigation use.

—    END —

Prepared by Monette Rebecca, on behalf of the RCWA Board of Directors and benefit to the public good. 

This document (RCWA Position - PN  #NRS12.236) was prepared for public use and information and educational purposes.

RCWA Board of Directors

Monette Rebecca (Founding President & Executive Director)

Catherine Hayden (Secretary)

Joel Covington (Treasurer)

Pat Williams

Steve Curnutte

Byron Benbow

Elizabeth Stein

  

Richland Creek Watershed Alliance (RCWA) is community supported stream conservation group focused exclusively on the environmental sustainability of the Richland Creek watershed and preservation of its ecosystem.

RCWA is a recognized 501(c)(3) public charity (2010).

RCWA P.O. Box 92016

Nashville, TN 37209

rcwa@comcast.net / (615) 525.3379

Cheers to Neighborly Branch Volunteers

Working to save a forgotten urban stream

On March 2, 2013 sixty volunteers gathered for coffee and to get supplies to help clean up Neighborly Branch, a tributary to Richland Creek.  Sergeant Chick hosted the Richland Creek Watershed Alliance event, West Precinct Community Room and then joined the clean up effort (photo below). Citizens from the watershed and beyond participated on a cold, wet, flurry day and  removed 6.5 tons of debris from 4 different stream areas, finding fun in the experience.  Debris was trucked from 3 locations to a fourth for removal. The beauty of the urban stream was revealed and appreciated.

More work needs done to help this urban stream become healthy again but a neighborly spirit took root and citizens took note of the neglect.  Volunteers came from many neighborhoods throughout the watershed to help, of all ages and backgrounds. Students from Nashville State Community College and boy scouts from Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Great Outdoors University program joined. A mile of stream was cleaned — headwaters, culverts, riparian areas and downstream.

75% of all the debris retrieved was taken for recycling.  Volunteers reported spotting a white milky discharge entering from a smaller branch, cave salamanders running for cover, syringes, tires, all sorts of debris, and what happens when a stream is forgotten.

MANY THANKS to Our PARTNERS!

Tennesee Wildlife Resources Agency

Dan and Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund

Metro Public Works

West Police Precinct

A VIEW OF NEIGHBORLY BRANCH AFTER

Richland Creek restoration project transforming a creek and community

Volunteers from many communities in the watershed joined us to transform a stream side on Richland Creek Saturday — Sylvan Park, Whitland, Nations, Cherokee Park, West Meade, Charlotte Park,  and Whitebridge neighbors planted 47 shrubs and plants. Representatives from Nashville State Comunity College, University School of Nashville and Cub Scout Troop 78 were there, and a couple of Messer Construction employees returned to help with Phase II. Special thanks to Gnome your Home gardener Janelle, who assisted with oreintating RCWA volunteers and planting. Learn more about Gnome at Home on facebook.
The two-phased restoration project engaged 70 community volunteers and introduced 16 native species back to the stream bank.  The sixty plants and trees now there will surely attract more wildlife for visitors to enjoy. Seven shrub species (ninebark, arrowwood, virginia sweetspire, winterberry, inkberry, buttonbush and spicebush) were chosen for their relationship in nature and their adaptation in a riparian landscape, to help rebuild the biological diversity in our urban watershed.
Common benefits from riparian restoration are...

• Prevents stream bank erosion and excessive sedimentation
• Improves water quality — intercepts and filtrates pollutants from surface run-off and subsurface flow
• Enhances wildlife habitat
• Improves community aesthetics, air quality and heat island effect, and
• Overtime, contributes a canopy to control stream temperature

Relationships were built for long term sustainability....

This project is funded through Tennessee Environmental Council and Harpeth River Watershed Association with funds from The Dan & Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund and the Metro Flood Response Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Loyal Brand Company and Blinker Lite provided provisions, and Mary Agee shared her photographic talents.

Thanks everyone!

Richland Creek Watershed Alliance

RCWA Celebrates Earth - April 14th

Join us April 14th for Phase II  of our restoration project (get flyer) on Richland Creek. Let us know you are coming and bring a shovel, trowel or your favorite garden tool to add life and beauty to the stream side. Free coffee, t-shirts, refreshments and fun!  Some of what we are planting shown.
This project is funded through Tennessee Environmental Council and Harpeth River Watershed Association with funds from The Dan & Margaret Maddox Chairtable Fund and the Metro Flood Response Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.  

Loyal Brand Company donating coffee and Blinker Lite providing portalet. 

Celebrate Earth restoring an urban stream.... Support the work of RCWA

RCWA Partners for a Clean Up March 15th

Last Thursday Richland Creek Watershed Alliance returned to the area south of West Park to remove more debris this year.  With the help from Hands On Nashville corporate volunteers' (Cummins Filtration), and provisions provided by Metro Public Works, 14 individuals retrieved a dumpster full of debris from Richland Creek's floodzone.  The clean up area was muddy and large (4 ac) but Mike Cain of Harpeth River Watershed Association brought an ATV and trailer to help volunteers bring out mattresses, tires, couches, chairs and many other odd and large items from the difficult work area back to the dumpster.  A thunderstorm broke out preventing us from continuing, but much was still recovered to prevent debris from impeding the free flow of stormwater.  Blinker Lite provided a portalet for the project, and we returned some inventory we found back to them.  A special thanks to local neighbor, Scott Gilliahan for assisting with project logistics.   Thanks everyone!

This project is funded through Tennessee Environmental Council and Harpeth River Watershed Association with funds from The Dan & Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund and the Metro Flood Response Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Thanks to 27 Volunteers, 13 trees planted for Richland Creek

This project is fundered through Tennessee Environmental Council and Harpeth River Watershed Association with funds from the Dan and Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund and the Metro Flood Repsonse Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

 Blinker Lite provided a portalet and Loyal Brand Company donated coffee for volunteers.

Thanks to our volunteers, sponsors and funders. 

Richland Creek Watershed Alliance

Volunteer for the RCWA Stream Restoration Project March 3rd

Richland Creek Watershed Alliance is happy to be calling for volunteers to begin a stream restoration project for Richland Creek, Saturday March 3rd.  Phase I of the project involves planting native trees to develop a canopy over the stream.  RCWA wants to transform the area into a creek-friendly environment. Be part of the transformation... and let us know you plan to attend (rcwa@comcast.net).
Stream Restoration helps...

~Prevent erosion

~Maintain a healthy aquatic temperature

~Improve water quality 

~Enhance habitats; and 

~Improve aesthetics, air quality and the heat island effect

This project is funded through Tennessee Environmental Council and Harpeth River Watershed Association with funds from The Dan & Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund and the Metro Flood Response Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Project location is 0 Conway street. 
Directions:  turn onto Morrow Road off of Charlotte Avenue, and then take a left at the stop sign, onto Georgia Avenue.  Project will be to your right, as you cross the bridge over the stream, and parking is along the side streets. 
Email us... rcwa@comcast.net so we have an idea of how many volunteers to expect.  Refreshments and free t-shirts available!
Bring a shovel if you can, good work shoes and dress for the weather.  Registration begins at 8:30 am and we plan to be done by noon.
Pencil-in on your calendar Phase II restoration project date too —April 14th,  when we install native shrubs and plants suited to stream environments and compliment the canopy we installed March 3rd.

Trees in autumn...

JOIN US... TO TRANSFORM THE STREAM SIDE!

RCWA End of Year Cheers

We have spent another year together focused on the important and mutual task of protecting and enhancing Richland Creek. Cheers and thank you for being there!  In 2011 we have...

• Assisted TWRA with collecting winter invertebrate samples on Richland Creek
• Implemented baseline water quality sampling on 9 locations of Richland Creek
• Collaborated with Nashville Waterways Recovery Project — assessed 18 stream miles for flood debris removal
• Held 4 flood recovery clean ups on the Creek — removed 16 tons of debris, engaged 152 volunteers and cleaned up 13.5 acres
• Fielded numerous environmental concerns and citizens' inquires
• Conducted 2 water quality training sessions for citizen scientists
• Completed a targeted dissolved oxygen study with volunteers
• Advocated for long-term restoration of Richland Creek
• Filed an Item A Appeal with Board of Zoning to defend Creek from an outdated land use
• Gave lectures about the work of RCWA, the health of Richland Creek and water resource sustainability
• Produced a wall poster for the Flow 2011 national conference held in Nashville that focused on RCWA's work with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's flow study on Richland Creek
• Facilitated a riparian enhancement project at Nashville Big Picture School with Johnson Controls
• Networked with several environmental groups, community leaders and citizens for stream conservation
• Filed a Petition with the Chancery Court of Davidson County challenging the Item A Appeal decision
• Rebuilt the RCWA website
• Published information to keep stakeholders informed (newsletter, blog and emails)
• Created a new RCWA brochure, stream monitoring sampling plan and volunteer training manual
• Held our Annual Gathering — A Watershed is Common Ground
• Recruited 3 new Board members
• Grew the RCWA membership

The work of RCWA in 2011 was made possible by the assistance received from:

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

World Wildlife Fund

The Middle Tennessee Community Foundation's Metro Disaster Response Fund

Barge Cauthen

Johnson Controls

Bone McAllester Norton

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Mayor's Office and Metro Government Departments:  Water Services, Public Works, Parks and General Services

Tennessee Department of Transportation

Nashville's Business Community (Messer Construction, Tennessee Contractors Equipment, Blinker-Lite, Dose, Produce Place and Starbucks

Our Members and Volunteers

RCWA is very appreciative of our supportors, members and volunteers and in 2012, more possibilities can become a reality with your help.  Please consider a year-end tax deductible gift to support the work of RCWA... to protect and enhance Richland Creek.  Donate via Paypal or snail mail.  We thank you.

Cheers to all for a great New Year!

RCWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RCWA rebuilt website GOES LIVE

RCWA rebuilt their website — www.richlandcreekwatershedalliance.org with ICG Link.  We have updated information about our work to improve the health and vitality of Richland Creek and will expand the site as we progress. The "Library," still under construction will provide access to our publications, photographs, videos and maps.  You can still easily donate and join the organization from the "how you can help" page and "check the blog" from the website.  RCWA is grateful to those that help accomplish this long process. Check it out.... and let us know what you think! 

Annual Gathering Highlights and Volunteer Cheers

Laura Lloyd

Holly and Barry Tashian

RCWA's 2011 Annual Membership Gathering last weekend at West Meade's Abintra Montesorri School was a success thanks to many people.  School cooridnator, Laura Lloyd wholeheartedly welcomed RCWA and the community space was perfect. Thanks for making it so easy and comfortable for us!  The Tashins' bluegrass rooted sound transformed the happening— filled the room with upbeat musical vibes. Thanks Barry and Holly for sharing your talent and music!  RCWA volunteers — Eleanor Synder, Susan Fisher, Paul Picilli, Sue Shann, Catherine Hayden and Steph Swartz made our event planning, set up, parking and clean up painless and flawless. Big thanks to everyone! Your food choices perfect.

This year's program highlighted streams running through negihborhoods and stakerhoders as the voice for creek life.  Environmental concerns announced prompted community questions. Results from RCWA"s summer dissolved oxygen study finding oxygen levels below regulatory requirements (5 mg/L) specifically were surprising.

The focus for the RCWA summer study was to evaluate if the use of creek water for irrigation during dry periods was inhibiting healthy dissolved oxygen levels from being maintained. Even though a longer and more costly study certainly would have provided more expansive data our results support Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's comment  — "an identifiable source of degradation is a Metro water withdrawal at Richland Creek Mile (RCM) 5.0 in the McCabe Park area."The first two days of the RCWA study found 8 out of 32 dissolved oxygen measurements (25%) fell below regulatory requirements — stream conditions were inhospitable to fish and aquatic life.  Before the third and final test day it rained and consequently creek conditions quickly improved, indicating the previous poor conditions were due to the lack of water flow in the stream.

RCWA will work to compile a report about our work and present it to decisions makers. The volunteer spirit is alive and well and lets give our Citizen Scientists a big hand:  Darlene Panvini, Holly and David Resuehr, Laurel Donahue, Jeff Recker, Steve Curnutte, Joel Covington, Mark Woods and Thomas Herbert and who represent several neighborhoods in our watershed.  

Thanks and Cheers to Volunteers.....

Monette

The Richland Creek Watershed Alliance's stream monitoring program was made possible by assistance provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and World Wildlife Fund.

RCWA Annual Gathering — A Watershed is Common Ground

www.tashianmusic.com

Graciously hosted by Abintra Montessori School, this year our annual gathering will be blessed with music by Barry and Holly Tashian — "Their singing was so precise, so on the mark, that the room rang with vocal overtones" — The Los Angeles Times.   

Join us for our presentation this year and to enjoy some food, wine, music and community-fun nestled in West Meade.

October 2, 2011 — 4-5:30 p.m. 

A Watershed is Common Ground

Abintra  Montessori School

914 Davidson Drive Nashville, TN 37205

Appetizers and wine — adult only event

Your (tax-deductible) support is appreciated!

Volunteers Become Citizen Scientists

RCWA held their first stream monitoring training at the old science lab in Cohn School last week, which brought back high school memories for some of us. The participants read a training manual RCWA created prior, which included background information on the watershed and outlined objectives for the stream study.  After several in-class trial runs, the following Saturday citizens collected samples from Richland Creek to conduct more dissolved oxygen tests.  Ten volunteers are committing their time for this important stream monitoring study. Adequate dissolved oxygen levels are required for healthy aquatic habitats, which is the focus for this RCWA study.  Once finished, citizen scientists will have recorded 144 dissolved oxygen measurements — made a significant feat.  Big cheers to our volunteers.  Thanks also to John Robbins and Quinn Bloom for assisting volunteers during the RCWA training sessions.
Stay tuned for additional updates and photos in upcoming weeks.
The Richland Creek Watershed Alliance is appreciative for the assistance provided by the World Wildlife Fund, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Barge Cauthen & Associates.  
To become a business sponsor contact us at rcwa@comcast.net.
Together, we do make a difference.

RCWA's Board of Zoning Appeal Case Postponed Today

RCWA filed an Item A Appeal with Metro Nashville Codes Administration on June 30, 2011.   The action was taken to defend Richland Creek from a nonconforming use car lot on Charlotte Pike that was resuming operations after they had abandoned the location for more than 24 months — a period of time longer than allowed by law for a new permit to come under the nonconforming provisions of the Metro Code.  

The Board of Zoning of Appeals postponed hearing our case (August 18, 1 PM) because 3 of the 7 Board of Zoning Appeal Members could not make the hearing today and another had to recuse themselves.  This meant for our case there would not be the required number of members (quorum) present.

RCWA's Item A Appeal (Case #2011-069) is now scheduled to be heard at 1 PM September 1st — at the next, regular scheduled hearing of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
A link to the Board of Appeals Meeting Dockets is http://www.nashville.gov/codes/bza/dockets.asp.

BZA Meetings are held 

700 2nd Avenue South 

Sonny West Conference Center

Nashville, TN