Greetings from Your Stones River Watershed.  May 2006

Watershed News.

New water quality standard available for review.  The Tennessee Department of Environment has issued a new proposed standard for e-coli bacteria in the Stones River.  This criteria for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) follows the departments 2004 list of impaired stream sections that found areas impacted by bacteria from septic and sewer outflows and pastures.  Comments on the new standard were due by May 8.  To see the relevant documents.

Lytle Creek project is proceeding.  Participants in the March trainings on Visual Stream Assessment are undertaking the assessment of assigned sections of the creek.  If you are on an assessment team, please remember to get your completed assessments with photos in to us.  Send hard copies to: SRWA, PO Box 2336, Murfreesboro 37133 to the attention of Beth Chesson.  Informational letters are going out this month to landowners along Lytle Creek to explain our grant and how to get involved.

Forms for reporting the findings are available on our website: http://stoneswatershed.org.

New Employee: We're pleased to report that grant funds will allow Nathan Singer to work part-time over the summer months to continue our education and outreach activities.

Earth Day was a big success.  Our booth at the Earth Day celebration in Murfreesboro was extremely popular with both children and adults.  Our new Enviroscape watershed provided the visual demonstration needed to get people talking about stormwater runoff and other pollution.  It will be seen again at TurtleFest.

Coming events:

Friday, May 12.  Turtlefest at Barfield Park, 4 to 9 pm.  This fun event culminates a series of turtle-related activities sponsored by the Wilderness Station at Barfield. SRWA will have a booth to take advantage of this opportunity to talk to people about the link between water quality and water-based wildlife.  If you would like to help out call Nathan Singer at 692-2126.

Saturday, May 13.  We will join the Cumberland River Compact and other watershed associations in doing a stream cleanup of the West Fork Stones River from the Thompson Lane trailhead of the Greenway to Nice's Mill.  This will be done from canoes and pre-registration is required. Some paddling experience is recommended.  Contact Heloise Shilstat at 896-6298 or heloisew@bellsouth.net.  Bring your own canoe or check with Heloise to see about arranging for a boat.  SRWA will pay for a few rentals from MTSU and we may have space in some private boats as well. Bring a lunch and water.

Tuesday, May 16.  Presentation to local chapter of AARP.  2 p.m., St. Clair Senior Center, Murfreesboro.  Topic: The value of buffer zones along streams.

Saturday, June 3. Fun float, location TBA but possibly from Brown's Mill to a private home.  These events are really fun.  We take up to 20 paddlers in all types of boat with no agenda other than having a good time and seeing some beautiful water.  Novices are welcome and we can help you arrange a boat if you don't have one.  The location will be decided closer to the date and will depend on water flows.  Subscribers to this Newsletter have first chance at reserving a place.  If you want to go contact Heloise (see above) by May 20.  If we still have room we will publicize the event to the general public.

Saturday, June 24. ANNUAL MEETING, Wilderness Station of Barfield Park.  This will be a great meeting.  It will follow the same general format as last year's event, with a combination of outdoor activities, educational program, business meeting, potluck and music.  The fun starts at 2:00 with the main program scheduled for 3:00.  A series of three speakers will address the full cycle of water monitoring, habitat impacts and restoration.  Speakers will be ecologist Theresa Thom, biologist Brian Miller, and watershed jack of all trades, John McFadden. Put it on your calendar.

Saturday, July 8.  Boat Day on the Greenway.  Our first annual was a huge success and this one will be even better.  Come to the Manson Pike trailhead between 9 and noon to try out various canoes and kayaks.  Many thanks to Binks Outfitters for providing demonstration models.