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TDEC PUBLIC HEARING Thursday, February 19, 2015 6:00 PM Hearing 5:30 PM Informational Session West Nashville Police Precinct 5500 Charlotte Pike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 17, 2015

TDEC Holds Public Hearing on Whitworth Permit to Dredge Pond At the request of RCWA and neighbors, TDEC (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Water Resources) is holding a Public Hearing on a permit application from Whitworth Subdivision to allow dredging of an approximately 3.5 acre manmade pond carved out of Kingfisher Branch. The Kingfisher Branch, aka Bosley Springs Branch, flows through the Whitworth Subdivision, emptying into Richland Creek. “The issue here,” says RCWA Director, Monette Rebecca, “is that a detention pond, conceived some 20-years ago to mitigate stormwater for a Planned Unit Development (PUD), doesn’t serve its purpose.” Construction of the pond was intended to filtrate pollution and mitigate the increase in storm water. Reviewing old files reveals that beside the run-off generated by the new development, stormwater was conveyed from I440 into the freshwater pond also. Subsequent to the original construction of the pond, Whitworth added an impermeable liner that prohibits water filtration through soil layers. “The stream was altered, degrading water quality in the pond and causing multiple impacts downstream, including flooding,” Rebecca adds. Additionally, Rebecca points out, permits were not requested before the pond was constructed (completed 1994-1996). “If a permit for this type of pond were applied for today, agencies that regulate any disruption to stream channels (TDEC and Corps of Engineers) would not issue one,” said Rebecca. “Instead of a permit request to dredge an illicit pond, what the public should be reviewing is a plan to restore

P.O. Box 92016 Nashville, TN 37209

richlandcreek.org _________________________________

Contact: Monette Rebecca, Executive Director 615.525.3379

rcwa@comcast.net

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Kingfisher Branch and mitigate PUD’s stormwater, making it suitable for fish habitat.” The applicant’s request is to remove 3000 cubic yards of sediment that has accumulated at the easterly portion of the pond. The project is expected to take 6 months, at a cost of $180,000. “Dredging is a temporary measure that doesn’t address the real issue here, and will likely degrade water quality during process. You can count on rain washing the stirred-up pollution downstream during the dredging timeline.”

Kingfisher Branch collects waters from two spring-fed 1st order streams that flow east to west, towards Bowling Ave. “Practically all of Kingfisher’s flow is stopped from exiting this pond and continuing downstream, contributing to poor water quality there too.” Before construction of the subdivision, neighbors did not report flooding. “If the stream wasn’t impounded, and allowed to flow naturally, there would more flood storage available.” “A free-flowing stream is a much better measure to reduce flood risk, and preserves fish habitat,” Rebecca adds. RCWA has discussed devising a long-term restoration plan with Whitworth to meet state water quality standards for fish and aquatic habitat.

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“The hearing is great opportunity for people to express support for developing and implementing a joint public/private plan that could serve as a model solution for other habitat restoration efforts,” says Rebecca. “Attending and speaking at the hearing is critical to demonstrating public concern, and as a call to action for healthier and safer streams.” In addition to verbal comments at Public Hearing, written comments, both before and (importantly) after the hearing are accepted and should be sent to: TDEC Division of Water Resources Attn: Brian Canada Brian.Canada@TN.GOV William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 11th Floor Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1102 END