Microplastics are ruining this Tennessee waterway.
June 2019 Newsletter
Here you will find requests for action, legislative updates, and more to help you explore,enjoy,andprotect the beautiful state of Tennessee.
BREAKING NEWS!
The Metro Nashville-Davidson Council unanimously passed three clean energy ordinances on final reading last night (June 4) that will lead the Metro government to 100% carbon-free energy by 2041, electrify the municipal vehicle fleet by 2050, and establish sustainable building standards for all new municipal buildings and retrofits!
Mark your calendars!
Summer Retreat 2019 July 26th - July 28th Cedars of Lebanon State Park
The Middle TN Group invites you to beautiful, historic Cedars of Lebanon State Park for a weekend of outdoor activities and indoor entertainment. The park has 10 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate, butterfly garden, disc golf course, and nature center that explores the ecological and cultural significance of the park.
Cedars of Lebanon features a landscape of karst formations including limestone sinkholes,caves and one of the largest stands of Eastern red cedars in the U.S.
Saturday- Attend committee meetings, workshops, or join TN State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath on a morning tour of Jackson Cave, or an evening hike on the 1/2 mile Cedar Glade Trail. In the afternoon, there will be a screening and discussion of the documentary The Nuclear Option (2017). Saturday evening will feature live music from the acoustic duo of Antoinette Olesen and Buddy Farler. Making a special appearance will be award-winning songwriter Susan Shann. Shann integrates her passion for music with her core values of earth-care, social justice and inclusive spirituality, in a way that can positively impact and uplift others.
Sunday- Executive Committee (ExCom) meeting or relax until departure
For details and to learn a bit about the fascinating history of Cedars of Lebanon, read our recent blog post, then get registered here!
Microplastics are changing this major Southern river
By Megan Jamerson, for Southerly, an "independent non-profit media organization that covers the intersection of ecology, justice, and culture in the American South"
Hillary McKnight stomped along the banks of Aldridge Creek in Huntsville, Alabama on a cloudy March morning, trying to scare off snakes before she picked up a plastic water bottle on the water’s edge.
It was her second creek cleanup in two weeks after learning the bottles break down over time into microplastics — tiny plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters in length — that pollute waterways. Conservation group Tennessee Riverkeeper organized the event as part of their campaign to respond to growing concerns over plastic pollution in Southeastern waterways. A 2018 study identified the Tennessee River as one of the most heavily polluted by plastics in the world.
Hillary McKnight picks up a plastic bag at a cleanup event at Aldridge Creek in Huntsville, Alabama. Aldridge Creek is a tributary of the Tennessee River. Credit: Megan Jamerson
Spring Conservation 'Round Tennessee Trip
By Scott Banbury, TN Chapter Conservation Programs Coordinator
Done with yet another “bill mill” dominated TN General Assembly, I took off on Monday, May 20th to support the conservation efforts of our members across the state.
On Monday, May 20, I joined Sierra Club members and others to oppose the reopening and expansion of the Maury County owned demolition landfill in the Chickasaw Trace Park, where the Columbia Cycling Club has created a regionally popular system of mountain bike trails along the Duck River. Last year, the Maury County Commission voted to close this landfill. Now, under newly elected County Mayor Andy Ogles ( ex-director of the Koch brothers funded Americans For Prosperity in TN ), the Maury County Commission is considering reopening and expanding the landfill, threatening bike and hiking trails, as well as water quality in the Duck River.
Due to the several hundred residents that turned out in opposition, the Maury County Commission kicked the vote down the road until September 2019. If you want to get involved contact longtime Sierra member Gale Moore at galecourtneymoore@cpws.net.
The next morning (May 21) I joined members of Sierra Club’s Care NET Committee in a meeting with Hawkin’s County’s new Director of Solid Waste and Recycling, John Lilly. John seems to have a solid grip on the county’s waste problems and their operation was very clean, perhaps due to the use of county jail labor. Hawkins County appears to be doing a good job with their recycling and we will keep a close eye on them. Contact Nancy Bell at nancywithbell@gmail.com to get involved.
CLICK HERE to read more about conservation efforts across the state
Meet a Member
In January, the Sierra Club Tennessee Chapter selected a new editor for its bi-monthly print newsletter, the Tennes-Sierran. Emily Ellis has done a great job so far in this role. She was recently featured in an article by Betty Bean of the online newspaper Knox TN Today. Read the article Talking Books with Emily Ellis to hear about the innovative "Books Sandwiched In" luncheon lectures Emily created for the Knox County Library. Thanks to Emily for using her talents to support the TN chapter!
TVA Proposes to Update its Natural Resource Plan (NRP)
TVA has proposed changes to its NRP, which was completed in 2011 to guide TVA’s management of public lands and waters within its power service area and the Tennessee River watershed. TVA has released its draft NRP and associated draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for public review and comment. The draft SEIS supplements TVA’s 2011 environmental review and examines the potential impacts associated with these changes.
TVA is hosting a webinar and 4 open house meetings around the region in June to hear public comments. The Public Webinar about the draft NRP and SEIS will be on Fri. June 14, 2019 at 11 am EDT. TVA plans to record the webinar and make it available on their website. Please pre-register for the webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar.
Wed. June 19th – 5:00 to 6:30 pm: Apex Bank – Mary Teague Community Center (located behind the bank) at 180 US Hwy 641 N. Camden, TN 38320
Climate facts, misinformation on collision course
By Pam Sohn, published May 29, 2019 in Chattanooga Times Free Press
The facts are pretty stunning.
As record hot temperature records fell across the South over the holiday weekend and farmers sweated to catch up with planting after the wettest spring on record, data shows it's not just the South, and it's not just a fluke.
Global surface temperatures in 2019 — based only on January through March — are on track to make this year the second or third warmest since records began in the mid-1800s, behind only 2016 and possibly 2017.
Ocean heat set a new record in early 2019, with more warmth in the oceans than at any time since 1940. Arctic sea ice is currently at a record low for this time of year. Antarctic sea ice also set new record lows in January.
The latest data shows that the level of the world's oceans continued to rise in 2019, with sea levels around 3.34 inches higher than in the early 1990s.
The Sing for the Climate Concert in Knoxville, TN is a free concert featuring outstanding musicians, organized by singer-songwriter Maggie Longmire (former organizer of the Louie Bluie Music & Arts Festival). The event fosters awareness of climate change and connects environmental organizations with new supporters through tabling.
In the weeks leading up to the event, a new message is featured each week. This week’s message is: We care for others. Climate change and social justice are inextricably linked. We cannot tackle one without addressing the other.
You won’t want to miss this free concert sponsored by TN Interfaith Power and Light, and 20 partner organizations! For more info or to become a partner, contact partner coordinator Kent Minault at kminault@gmail.com or visit climateknoxville.org. Please RSVP to keep in touch or follow their Facebook page.
Students Tackle Real-Life Sustainability Issues
By JoAnn McIntosh (edited and abridged)
On May 7, Clarksville-Montgomery County students displayed their solutions to real-life problems in the STEM Expo held at Austin Peay State University. STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) teaches students to apply the concepts they learn to situations in their communities, and understand how a solution to a local problem can have global benefits.
The Expo showcased over 100 STEM projects, with participants representing 23 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools in Montgomery County. At least 1/3 of the problems the students tackled were related to sustainability issues- particularly climate, energy, health and disaster response.
Congratulations to these students, teachers, and schools for recognizing and addressing neglected priorities!
Volunteer Opportunity
Are you a numbers-oriented person with a bit of free time? The TN Chapter is in need of a Vice-Treasurer, who will step up to Treasurer in 2021. Plenty of hands-on training can be provided. A bookkeeper does the major reports (Yay!). For more information, please contact Treasurer Alice Demetreon at Demetreon1981@gmail.com or call/text (660) 247-2288.
Species Spotlight
This month's featured seasonal species is the
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Photo by Randy Hedgepath
Native to eastern North America
Evergreen that blooms late May - early June, usually pink fading to white
Both Connecticut and Pennsylvania claim Mountain Laurel as their state flower
One variety, the Texas Mountain Laurel, has purple blooms that smell like grape bubblegum
Can you spot the Mountain Laurel in your neighborhood or on your next hike?
Did You Know?
The Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club is organized regionally into 5 different groups. Each group hosts their own events, social outings, and organizes locally to advocate for specific environmental issues. We come together as the TN Chapter to lobby and effect change on the state level. To find your group and get involved click here!
Who We Are
We are the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club, the world’s oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization. With over 3.5 million members and supporters, the Sierra Club has the resources to empower people and to influence public policy through community activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation.
Our mission is to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.
