Innovative Middle Tennessee Project Demonstrates Unique Stormwater Management Practices

Public invited to dedication ceremony at the Wilson County Fairgrounds Dec. 18

LEBANON, Tenn. — The Tennessee Healthy Watershed Initiative and Wilson County will dedicate a second project on Dec. 18, at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center / Fairgrounds, including the implementation of a pervious parking area, rain gardens, nature trails, wetlands, and other techniques to capture and clean stormwater on site before it enters Tennessee’s waters.

Media are invited to attend the dedication ceremony beginning at 10 a.m., which will be followed by guided tours of the project site. 

The project combines several new approaches to managing stormwater, improving water quality, enhancing wildlife habitat and viewing, and providing educational opportunities for the local community.  The site will be available as an educational facility for Tennessee citizens interested in learning about the benefits of these techniques and how to implement similar efforts in their own communities.  This is the second of many projects across the state of Tennessee funded through the initiative. A request for proposals was announced earlier this year and more projects are expected to begin in January 2013.

WHO:    Mayor Randall Hutto, Wilson County

               TDEC Commissioner Robert Martineau

               TDEC Deputy  Commissioner Dr. Shari Meghreblian

               Gary Gaskin and John Dewaal, Project Coordinators

               David Salyers, West Tennessee River Basin Authority

               Gina Hancock and Trisha Johnson, The Nature Conservancy

WHAT:   Dedication ceremony at the Wilson County Fairgrounds and site tours to celebrate latest project promoting Tennessee healthy watersheds

WHEN:  Tuesday, December 18

               10 a.m. - Remarks

               11 a.m. - Site Tours

WHERE:  James E. Ward Agricultural Center/Wilson County Fairgrounds (Midway Area)

                  945 East Baddour Parkway

                  Lebanon, TN 37088       

Launched in August 2011, the Tennessee Healthy Watershed Initiative is the result of a partnership among the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and the West Tennessee River Basin Authority.  The initiative’s primary goal is to maintain and improve water resources across the state by bringing together the public, landowners, resource management agencies, and conservation-focused organizations to promote communication, collaboration, and thoughtful water resources planning.  To learn more about the Tennessee Healthy Watershed Initiative and for a detailed summary of today’s projects and those funded to date, please visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/thwi/. 

###