Harpeth Conservancy

A walk-through Shelby Bottoms you'll hear a chorus of chorus frogs. “These wetlands are part and parcel to our rivers that they love,” said Grace Stranch with Harpeth Conservancy. The chorus of frogs depend on wetlands to survive, but so do we. “At the end of the day when they’re gone, they’re gone forever,” said Stranch

?? We are currently working on HB 0541/ SB 0670 which is moving through the Tennessee legislature. This bill would weaken protections for wetlands, which would ultimately affect our water quality, wildlife, and flood resilience. As Wpln Fm 90.3-Nashville Public Radio reports, "The amendment still proposes deregulating the vast majority of isolated wetlands, removing protections for isolated wetlands less than two acres in size.?Isolated wetlands hold flood waters, filter pollutants–including?forever chemicals–provide habitat and recharge streams, rivers and aquifers. Clusters of small wetlands can greatly reduce?flood impacts. For these ecological services, a single acre has been?valued?at nearly $50,000." Wetlands are Tennessee’s natural defense system, absorbing stormwater and providing habitat for countless species (among countless other valuable ecosystem services). We must act now to protect them! ?? Read more from WPLN News: https://lnkd.in/dAJdH4HH ?? Learn why wetlands matter and how you can help: https://lnkd.in/duegmx5w #ProtectWetlands #Wetlands #WetlandsConservation #ConservationMatters #Tennessee

We'd love for you to join us at this upcoming Public Hearing! On March 18, TDEC will hold a Public Hearing on proposed permit action to solicit comments and information necessary from the public to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed activities on the Duck River. --Shelbyville Power, Water, and Sewerage Systems proposes to increase its raw water withdrawal for public water supply to ten million gallons of water per day from the Duck River in Shelbyville. --Lewisburg Water & Wastewater proposes to increase its raw water withdrawal for public water supply to 6.0 million gallons per day from the Duck River in Marshall County. Join us to learn more and advocate for the Duck River. The hearing is hybrid, so you can join us in person at Henry Horton State Park, or, virtually via Zoom. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eXn8Qhxg (Registration is not required to attend the public hearing, but we'd love to be able to keep you updated and connect at/after the meeting!)

We are so grateful to WM for hosting us and Ensworth School for their annual service day. It was an incredible time learning about the native habitat and needs of this urban wetland ecosystem. Great job to all the students who participated in caring for the habitat with us!

Harpeth Conservancy's CEO Grace Stranch joined fellow members of the Duck River Planning Partnership this week along with Governor Bill Lee. This Planning Partnership is working to preserve the Duck River. It is essential to Tennessee’s future, and Harpeth Conservancy is committed to ensuring that conservation remains at the forefront as we plan for sustainable growth. Photo from Governor Bill Lee

???? Weed Wrangle success! ???? More than 30 dedicated volunteers joined forces with Native American Indian Association of TN, Inc., Weed Wrangle, and the Nashville Garden Club to tackle invasive species and restore native habitat! Together, we removed a ton of bush honeysuckle and privet and planted 50 native tree seedlings—Native Sweet Pecan and Staghorn Sumac. ??? The best part? Thanks to past efforts, trillium and mayapple are making a comeback! ???? Proof that every pull, dig, and plant makes a difference for Tennessee’s biodiversity. #WeedWrangle #NativePlants #HabitatRestoration #InvasiveSpecies #VolunteerPower #Nashville

????Wildlife, Wetlands, and the Future of Tennessee’s Rivers ???? Tennessee’s wetlands and rivers are among the most biodiverse in the country—but their future depends on the actions we take today. In this episode of Wetlands: Changing the Narrative, a digital storytelling series by the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) in collaboration with?Wide Awake Films, we hear from Dr. Kristen Cecala, an ecologist and professor at The University of the South. Dr. Cecala studies how changes in water availability impact wildlife, particularly amphibians and wetland species that rely on healthy, connected ecosystems. ?? “When we look at wetlands, it’s really easy to underestimate them as small features…If you were to build over this wetland or fill it in, that population would be lost. You may lose things like wood ducks that would have this area potentially as a stop-over point within another network of ponds. I think one of the things that biologists can be really helpful to a variety of different folks is understanding how we can both preserve the wildlife that use these kinds of wetlands, as well as allow us to do the things we need to do on our landscapes With a little bit of information, we can create win-win situations for biodiversity and for the landowners.” More than 320,000 acres of our state’s wetlands are likely “geographically isolated” and could lose protection with changes to the longstanding water protection statute, the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act. Losing these wetlands has a ripple effect across greater ecosystems that could impact our wildlife, our rivers, and our way of life. Protecting our wetlands isn’t just about conservation—it’s about ensuring clean water, healthy ecosystems, and a sustainable future for generations to come. Join us in reshaping the story of wetlands and rivers. Watch, learn, and take action today. #ChangingTheNarrative?#ProtectWetlands?#Tennessee?#DuckRiver?#Biodiversity?#CleanWater?#EcologyMatters

On Tuesday, February 25, 120 participants - from Memphis to Kingsport - joined us and our fellow partner organizations at the Tennessee state capitol to speak with 85 legislators about protecting our environment. We’re so proud of our multi-generational community - from 10 years old to over 75. We’re better together and have so much to learn from each other! Interested in getting involved with legislative advocacy? Email Marie at [email protected] . . #policy?#advocacy?#legislation?#generalassembly?#tennessee?#cleanwater?#cleanrivers?#recycling?#environment TENNESSEE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL Sierra Club Foundation - Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light (Nashville) ?? courtesy of John Todd Waterman

Tennessee’s waterways—especially the beloved Duck River—are facing potential rollbacks in protections under two proposed state bills. These changes could weaken regulations that safeguard our clean water and river ecosystems, and impact the communities that rely on them. At Harpeth Conservancy, we believe in science-based policies to keep our rivers and waterways healthy for generations to come. Read more about what’s at stake in this Tennessee Lookout article: https://lnkd.in/e4VqUMyP

?? Brewing with the Duck River: A Water Source Worth Protecting??? The Duck River isn’t just a scenic backdrop—it’s the foundation of local businesses, clean drinking water, and a thriving ecosystem. In the latest episode of Wetlands: Changing the Narrative, a digital storytelling series by the National Association of Wetland Managers?(NAWM) and Wide Awake Films, we hear from Zac Fox, owner & head brewer at Bad Idea Brewing Company, LLC in Columbia, TN. ?As a craft brewer, Zac knows firsthand how vital wetlands and the Duck River are to his work and his community. ?"[Beer] is a product that is 95% water, we’re reliant upon the river that’s right here behind us. Our water comes straight out of the Duck River… it’s critical to everything we do here in the brewery." – Zac Fox The Duck River supplies more than just beer—it provides drinking water, sustains businesses, and supports countless species of fish and wildlife. But as development pressures grow, so does the need to protect this irreplaceable resource. The Duck River also depends on wetlands. Tennessee has already lost up to 60% of its wetlands, putting clean water, flood protection, and wildlife at risk. That’s why this series that highlights the people working to protect these critical ecosystems. ?Watch his story and help protect our wetlands and rivers: ?https://lnkd.in/eNb9nP6d #ChangingTheNarrative #DuckRiver #ProtectWetlands #conservationmatters?#CleanWater #SupportLocal #brewery?#SustainableFuture