The Environmental Protection Agency is mandated by the Clean Water Act under Section 319 to provide Funding to State Governments to help improve water quality on streams that are listed as impaired by Non Point Source Pollution. Impaired is defined as Not Fully Supporting the designated uses for a Stream. Non Point Source (NPS) Pollution is defined as any contaminant that is not directly supplied to the stream. The most common NPS is runoff across fields that carries siltation, nutrients, and pesticides into a stream through normal rainfall.

 

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) applies for these funds each year. TDA is typically awarded $3.1 million every year. This money is used only for work with streams listed as impaired and Agricultural Processes are the NPS. The two most common agricultural NPS listed are E. coli. build up from nutrient runoff from Pasture Grazing and Siltation build up from Cropland.

 

 

Giles County has three listings of impaired streams with agriculture listed as the NPS. Robertson Fork Creek and two sections of Richland Creek. All three are listed for Pasture Grazing. This mean Giles County can apply for funding to work on projects in the watersheds of the listed streams. Best Management Practices (BMP) such as cross-fencing, exclusion-fencing, pipeline, watering facilities, heavy use areas, and grass buffers just to list a few. These BMP’s will be cost-shared at a rate of 75% of cost.

Giles County Soil Conservation District is pursuing a grant for the Robertson Fork Creek (RFC) Watershed area.  A grant in the amount of 1.4 million dollars has been requested to work on projects in the RFC watershed. The priority focus will be to work with livestock producers having access to the main stream and in a combined effort with the Highway Department on clearing log jams and protecting streambanks. Once those areas have been addressed we will branch out to the entire watershed area to address all concerns.  Keep watching this page for new information and updates concerning the RFC grant request.

Contact

Tanner Barksdale

931-363-2675 x106

Tanner.barksdale@tn.nacdnet.net