Water Conservation

Healthy Watersheds in Johnson County

Natural Tunnel Stream channeling at Evergreen Baptist Church, Roan Creek, Johnson County.

Natural Tunnel Stream channeling at Evergreen Baptist Church, Roan Creek, Johnson County.

Over twenty years of responsible fiscal management has made the ARCD a regional go-to for administration of environmental state funds that must be implemented through a nonprofit. From 2015-2018 the ARC&D was proud to be awarded a second “319”  grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and TN Dept. of Agriculture to continue eliminating E.Coli and nitrogen pollution problems in the Roan Creek watershed of Johnson County.

Year 2014 marked the close of a five-year “319” grant on Roan Watershed, working closely with Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting. This project benefited many landowners by providing cost-share to stabilize stream banks, leading to less erosion and more filtration of sediment, nitrogen, and pollutants, and make healthier aquatic species habitat. The grant was also used to stabilize streams in advance of installing Doe Mountain’s Adventure Trails system.  We were able to repair 15 stream sites through this partnership.

“In the past, govt. agencies typically used “hard bank” techniques which often just passed the pollution problem downstream. In Roan Creek we used innovative Natural Channel methods. Not only does this stabilize the bank to prevent landowners from losing more land, it creates trout and aquatic habitat, and reduces sediment.” Adam Williams, Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting.

Roan Creek landowners interested in financial assistance for rebuilding, re-grading, re-planting, or re-fencing streambanks should contact Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting.  Homeowners who need assistance with upgrading their septic systems along Roan Creek should also call to inquire about possibilities.

This project partnered with:

Land Trust for Tennessee: conservation easements protect water quality

Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance: a voice for water quality in the Nolichucky basin

Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting: dedicated to smart solutions in our home base on Mountain City and in Northeast Tennessee and the high country of North Carolina.