Now Is the Time for All of Us to Actually Care about Our Water

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a revised definition of “waters of the United States.” The change has reduced the number of waterways that receive federal protection under the Clean Water Act. While this is considered by some to be a setback, at Thrive we see an opportunity in our collective accountability as residents of this area. 

Approximately 1,400 miles of streams in the tri-state region are polluted, primarily due to soil and livestock run-off from working farms.

Check out the map of impaired streams in the region on the Thrive Geohub.

At Thrive, we know the people and leaders of this region— at local and statewide levels, in business or public sector— deeply care about this place and its resources. In such a beautiful part of the world, the natural elements are linked to our identity as a people and as a community. We have an empowering and shared responsibility to ensure that our children have the same, if not better, natural resources that we have today. 

Water is something we all need. It is elemental to our health. It is central to communities and necessary for growth. Water unites us. 

Our waterways, even the smallest, comprise our water supply. The water that comes out of our faucets came from springs and streams to get there.

Our waterways generate a booming outdoor recreation economy. According to a 2012 study by the University of Tennessee, over $43 million in economic activity was generated by visitor spending in the Ocoee River area. 

Water, in its cleanest form, attracts people and industry to this area. It provides power to certain industries, transport to others. 

When water is jeopardized, our social and economic systems are compromised.  Last September, the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee experienced a collective scramble when a Tennessee American Water main break caused a three-day outage.  In a world where some countries are preparing for “Day Zero,” or, the day the water runs out, one thing is abundantly clear. Our water is a resource that we, the people, must protect.

This is not a question of either/or. If we are intentional, we can have economic growth and clean water. We can have successful working lands and clean water. We can decide to prosper without sacrificing the building blocks of healthy human and natural communities.

Currently, we have engaged state entities in our Natural Treasures Alliance, and in additional meetings about the economic impact of outdoor recreation. We welcome the opportunity to continue connecting our state partners, as well as private landowners and farmers, to the resources and specialists they need to ensure the region’s waters remain healthy for their families, businesses, and communities. 

We invite you to join us.

Dive deeper into water-related topics with Regional Trends Spotlight: Freshwater.

Here’s how you can help:

• Get your kids involved! WaterWays has a variety of resources for educators, parents and children that promote healthy water.

• Adopt a (Water) Trail with Wild Trails. Volunteer for their next creek clean-up!

• Visit the Ducktown Basin Museum in Polk County to learn more about the history of mining in Tennessee and how it has drastically changed our region’s landscape and waters.

• Learn best practices in city and community planning that improve water quality. Read Hydrolit: Southeast Tennessee Water Quality Playbook, prepared for Southeast Tennessee Development District by the University of Tennessee School of Landscape Architecture in 2017.

• Reduce your environmental impact with TNACI’s Go Green guide

• Experience pristine waters for yourself! Snorkel the Conasauga River in northwest Georgia with the Forest Service.

• Skip the straw. Join TNACI’s “In Our Hands” campaign to reduce microplastics that harm fish and other animals in our home waterways.

• Help from your house! City of Chattanooga’s Water Quality Program has informative resources and homeowner tips to reduce stormwater runoff, such as rain barrels and rain garden tutorials.

• Do you farm? Shade your stream to improve water quality, temperatures, and wildlife habitats on your property. Visit ShadeYourStream.org for simple steps and native plant guides to shade your water!

Did you know?

Some articles about the EPA roll-back reference the removal of “ephemeral bodies of water” from federal safeguards. These are temporary waters that form only after rainfall or that flow only part of the year and dry up at other times. 

In the greater Chattanooga region, a rare, colorful fish called the Trispot Darter originates in these temporary pools. Wait for it. These little guys are like salmon. When they are ready to spawn, they return to the precise pool where they were born! Cool, right?