News from the Stones River Watershed Association: Nov. 2005

Here's news from your Stones River Watershed Association.

1.	Cleanup on Saturday, November 19.
2.	Board and membership meeting  
3.	Lytle Creek project
4.	Report on our Oct. 15 float.


1.  Cleanup in Smyrna.  Our plans for a cleanup in Readyville on November 19 
have been changed so that we can work with Smyrna Parks and Recreation on a 
greenway cleanup coordinated by Greg Upham, manager of the Smyrna stormwater 
program.
 
SRWA will have responsibility for one or two sites that directly impact 
Stewarts Creek. Our team will meet at 9 AM at the Volunteer Park in Smyrna 
and will work until finished or noon, whichever comes first.
 
Site 1 is between 8th and 9th Streets adjacent to Stewarts Creek on river 
right, about 1/4 mile from Volunteer Park. We passed this section on our 
August float. It is a rocky area where people have been dumping bottles, 
building materials, brush, and furniture. The City will set a dumpster and 
containers for recyclables for our use. Half a dozen people could take care 
of this easily. 
 
Site 2 is optional, and will be done only if we have the manpower. It is a 
quarter mile stretch of Hart's Creek adjacent to the Smyrna Greenway and 
Golf, and near Smyrna's Waste Treatment facility. This site is directly off 
Sam Ridley Parkway. Hart's is ankle deep at this time. There is not much 
trash here other than a few drums and tires.  Three people could manage this 
clean -up. We will leave the trash on the Greenway for later pickup.  It 
flows into Stewart's Creek near the Greenway walkway overpass. We passed 
this on our August float.

Pre-registration is not necessary but will help determine the number of 
gloves and other supplies needed. Phone Heloise Shilstat at 631-0169, e-mail 
heloisew@bellsouth.net, or just meet us at Volunteer Park at 9 AM.  

Volunteer Park is adjacent to Stewarts Creek on 8th Avenue several blocks 
off Weakly Ln. in the old air base area.  From the intersection of Sam 
Ridley Pkwy. and Weakly Lane, go .7 miles, turn left onto 8th Avenue, cross 
the bridge and Volunteer Park is on your right. 

2. Board and membership meeting, Thursday, November 17.  We will meet at the 
Carriage Lane Reception House, 337 E. Burton in Murfreesboro, beginning at 
6:30 pm.  Everyone is welcome.  We will be planning a public meeting with 
county officials and discussing our agenda for 2006.

3. Plan now to get active with our Lytle Creek project.  We will be putting 
boots on the ground, or in the creek, next spring as we go into the active 
phase of our grant project.  Volunteers for the project will participate in 
a very interesting training that will teach us how to look at the physical 
characteristics of a creek or river to make determinations about its health 
and condition.  If you want to know more contact Beth Chesson 
(president@stoneswatershed.org) or watch for further information in your 
SRWA news.

4. Fall fun float.  Our October 15 float on the section of the East Fork 
above the VA hospital was great fun, with 17 people participating in a 
variety of boats.  The colors were not yet at their peak but the day was 
spectacular. Many thanks to Heloise for hosting us at her house and doing 
all the advance.