Watershed Summit on Short Mountain

September 14-16, 2007

Proposed Action Agenda

Events and Networking

1. Coordinate efforts to expand Boat Day to statewide/multi-watershed event

• Schedule it to precede annual TSRA Canoe School and use it to promote the school.

Responsibilities:

• SRWA to write up a one-page “How To” description of the event
• Cumberland Compact to promote to other watersheds and do general promotion
• Harpeth River Watershed Assoc. (Mike Cain) to … ?
• Sherry Beard, TSRA, to help with Public Relations

2. Create a structured system for continuing discussion

Possible Elements:

• Blog, Wiki , Chat room, Listserv or Bulletin Board?
• Quarterly conference calls, maybe using Skype or other VOIP
• Purpose is to keep a record of discussions about issues considered.

Responsibilities:

• SRWA (Mayo) to look into creating Summit blog or wiki. Solicit other technical skills from participating groups.

3. Maintain a master calendar of events

Responsibilities.

• Hilary Hargrove, SRWA) will look into using the website for Environmental Education in Tennessee (www.eeintennessee.org). Groups can post events to the shared calendar.
• Laura Alex , CRC, is already doing regular emailings to the watershed groups associated with the Compact and can include notice of events.

4. Host a meeting for people interested in blueways to develop a toolbox.

Responsibilities:

• Blueways committee of TSRA and Mike Cain, HRWA.

5. Organize public forums for public education.

Responsibilities:

• Mike Cain, HRWA, to develop a one-page summary of a successful program from that watershed.
• Laura Alex, CRC, to develop a speakers list.

6. Promote like-minded organizations

• Links on websites
• Opportunities to display or speak at meetings

Stream Monitoring

1. Continue to move towards a consistent data presentation standard for watersheds to use in mapping and reporting data (i.e. GIS technologies)

2. Develop a recommended toolbox for water quality monitoring and other activities.

Responsibilities:

• John McFadden, TEC, to coordinate ongoing discussions
• Continue the volunteer monitoring meetings (SRWA, HRWA, TEC, others)

Legislation

1. Encourage support of Tennessee container legislation on grounds of reducing trash in creeks

• Provide website links to website of Tenn. Conservation Voters and/or www.tnbottlebill.org for information.
• Provide information about makeup of trash picked up in cleanup.

2. Support enforcement of existing laws about ATVs on public roads and helmets. Support requirements for licensing ATVs

• Contact Tennessee Trails Association for information about impact on trails.
• Find channels for working with responsible outdoor recreation groups to convey information about damage to water quality.

Responsibilities:

• Mayo will contact Fount Bertram re: TTA

3. Investigate the federal Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 to consider support

Responsibilities:

• SRWA will circulate information as part of Summit follow-up
• Each watershed should educate members about background and implications of the Act.

4. Respond to the Corps of Engineers  guidance on wetlands (i.e. the Rapanos response) that is now open for public comment (through Dec.)

Responsibilities:

• SRWA to circulate further information in Summit follow-up
• Any group that develops a detailed response should share it with others.

5. Determine if there is a legislative approach to strengthen or spur implementation of the state Scenic Rivers Act.

Responsibilities:

• Work through board/organizational representatives to Tenn. Conservation Voters.

Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act Issues

1. Develop a plan for reinvigorating the Act for discussion with Reggie Reeves (director of TDEC Natural Areas division).

2. Develop support among constituents to get TWRA more administratively involved with the Tenn. Scenic Rivers Act.

3. Propose an advisory board for the program with watershed association representatives.

Responsibilities:

• TSRA Canoe Access committee will take the lead.
• Marshall Spencer will discuss further with Patty Shultz (chair of the committee).

4. Additional items that were suggested that were deemed good ideas but better to defer:

• Build general public support for the Scenic Rivers Act.
• Do public education on the benefits of owning property on a designated Scenic River
• Cultivate the Farm Bureau.

Miscellaneous Items

1. Monitor and report on MS4 (municipal stormwater programs) permit reviews.

Responsibilities:

• Beth Chesson, SRWA, will be contact and provide more information.

2. Watershed signage on Short Mountain: Work with Cannon County Roads Dept., TDOT, local legislators and others to find funding for two watershed landmarks:

• Place an interpretive sign and improve the outlet for the spring on Short Mountain Rd. in Cannon County that is generally considered the origin of the East Fork Stones River.
• Place an interpretive sign on the property of the Short Mountain Bible Camp and/or near a public road to mark the point at which water flows to the Stones, Caney and Collins systems.

Responsibilities:

• Randle (SRWA) to coordinate with the camp.
• John Sanborn to be a local contact with county officials, others.

3. River Access opportunities

• Approach Horton Haven Christian Camp to request camping on the banks of Duck River
• Work with Tom Brady, owner of the Readyville Mill, to develop a put-in for the East Fork Stones.

Responsibilities:

• Sherri Beard and TSRA for Horton Haven
• Randle Branch, SRWA, to work with Tom Brady.

4. Attract new, young board members and activists.

• Recruit through events
• Contact recreation programs at Vanderbilt, MTSU, others
• Find a way to identify concerns of young people.

Responsiblities: none assigned.

5. Support landowners who don’t want utility companies to spray herbicides.

Responsibilities:

• Laura Alex will send information on the Green Building Council model
• Bob Phillips and Allen Persinger of Old Hickory Watershed Assoc. may be willing points of contact on information for landowners.