Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Cumberland River Compact works with South Nashville neighborhoods on small but not insignificant steps to protect the Browns Creek watershed

Rain gardens can make a significant difference in controlling stormwater run-off and in naturally treating that water in the process. CRC's work in South Nashville matters if neighborhoods are on board with the project:


The Cumberland River Compact is working with neighborhood associations in the Browns Creek watershed to plant rain gardens on private residential properties this spring. The gardens will be planted by volunteers with plants provided by the Cumberland River Compact with no charge to home owners. Homeowners will be required to maintain the garden with seasonal watering during the first 2 summers and occasional weeding. We have funding for up to 25 gardens in the 12 South Neighborhood. This project is April 15 - 28 with a mandatory informational meeting Wednesday March 29 at 6pm at the Sevier Park Community Center. We will also start a waiting list for fall 2011 rain gardens should demand exceed 25.

A rain garden is a small bowl shaped garden, 6" deep, designed to catch rain water runoff from roofs or driveways. The garden holds the water for less than 24 hours giving it time to sink into the ground. It is planted with native flowers and ornamental grasses.

While residential communities are doing what they can to assist the stormwater treatment process, ultimately the largest impact on the Brown's Creek watershed are the industrial and business developments and the impervious surfaces of highways, parking lots, and surface roads. Ultimately, cleaning up Brown's Creek is going to be a much larger project, for which rain gardens are an initial step.

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting this. The neighbors have to step up to lead this effort. The racers don't care about our drinking water, they just want to continue polluting the water and air. Where are all the big plans the racers had for the fairgrounds? Where is the multi million dollar project that was suppose to clean up a portion of Browns Creek and the fairgrounds? The racers' plan was Nashville's version of Spring Hill's Festival Tennessee.

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  2. I'm a race fan. I recycle. I walk to the Bi-Rite to buy groceries. Race cars pollute less than your car. They don't leak oil. Nor are they driven to work. Do you ride a bike two miles to Green Hills like I do to buy my herbs at Whole Foods health shop? Do you car-pool? I doubt it. Do you use mass transit? I am a race fan. You, sir, or m'am, are an idiot.

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  3. BTW,

    I am also an avid back-packer and canoeist. I have back packed Savage Gulch, Big South Fork and Virgin Falls. I have canoed the Harpeth, Elk, Buffalo, Caney and Red rivers. I am also a race car fan. NO one has a million dollar clean-up plan for the creek. Like me, many race folk are avid outdoorsmen. We all care about Tennessee and our environment. The raceway proper pollutes less than the traffic going up and down 8th Ave every day. Sign your name. Facebook me too. Let's go hike at Jericho Falls in Franklin County. Do you even know of that wonderful part of Tennessee nature? Or do you just spout at the mouth? I am a race fan. And nature lover. Come join me.

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