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Over 50% of Tennessee Waterways are Considered Impaired

Excessive nutrient and microbial contamination of surface waters contribute to poor water quality that threatens environmental and human health. Nutrients drive increased occurrence and severity of harmful algal blooms whereas microbial contamination(indicated by the presence of Escherichia coli)can lead to swim advisories at local beaches or rivers frequented by swimmers. These pollutants are some of…

June Conservation Conversations: Understanding Dams and their Impacts

I grew up with a skewed perspective on dams. In my mind, all dams were massive and monolithic. And that makes sense given that I grew up in Las Vegas, where Hoover Dam was a staple of the Vegas tourist agenda and landscape. A distinct memory from my childhood is a fourth grade field trip…

May Conservation Conversations: Flooding in Tennessee

After the crazy year we’ve had already, we couldn’t wait to dive into this month’s Conservation Conversations topic: Flooding in Tennessee. Nashville in particular has had a rocky past when it comes to flooding, and many residents are probably wondering what to do to keep their homes safe. From flood insurance, to 100-year rain events,…

SELC, HC and Other Groups Respond to TDEC Denial of Request to Terminate/Revoke Volunteer Sand & Gravel Permit

On April 16, 2021, the Southern Environmental Law Center (“SELC”), Harpeth Conservancy, Hurricane Mills Mining Opposition, Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association, Tennessee Clean Water Network, Tennessee Chapter Sierra Club, and Defenders of Wildlife (“Conservation Groups”) asked the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (“TDEC” or “the Department”) to terminate or revoke National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System…

How to find the water levels near you

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Water Information System 1. Go to the United States Geological Survey Water Information System: Mapper2. Type in your location3. Choose the gray access pin upstream from your location4.Click on access data and choose “Current/Historical Data”  Click on your area below to see Gage Height and discharge of the Harpeth River….

March Conservation Conversations: Women in Environmental Science

This past Wednesday, March 24th, Harpeth Conservancy celebrated Women’s History Month by inviting Crystal Bishop, Water Specialist with Tennessee Valley Authority and Kathleen Dennis, Director of Mill Creek Watershed Association, to discuss their expertise and experiences as women in the field of environmental science.  We were delighted to hear about Kathleen Dennis’s more circuitous route,…