The Valleyist Papers
A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS WRITTEN IN FAVOUR OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF STEPHENS VALLEY
Author – William Ray
Edition 3. Issue 12.
As 2024 draws to a close here in Stephens Valley, it seems an appropriate time to update the neighborhood on the biggest project of 2024 – the work to restore Trace Creek. This project was something to see, and we really haven’t seen it end yet. Rather, the project has only delivered a rebirth of the creek and the environment immediately surrounding the waterway, so what we see now is the equivalent of a newborn baby. As we all know, newborns bring with them a lot of changes and a few worrisome issues, and this essay is meant to illustrate just where the Compact, the Developer, and the Owners are in the process of raising the new Trace Creek corridor now that it is born again.
As we all know, the Cumberland River Compact's Trace Creek Restoration Project is a significant environmental initiative focused on revitalizing Trace Creek, a tributary which has its own tributaries flowing through our neighborhood. This project highlights the organization's broader mission to enhance the health of the Cumberland River and its tributaries, which are essential for the ecosystem, the communities they support, the broader watershed, and for us and the other customers of Harpeth Valley Utilities, enhance the quality of the water in the Cumberland River, where we get the water we use here in our homes.
Trace Creek, like many streams and rivers in Tennessee, has faced challenges due to urbanization, agricultural runoff, and changes in land use. These factors have led to issues like sedimentation, nutrient overload, habitat loss, and increased flood risk, which threaten the biodiversity and health of the watershed. The Trace Creek Restoration Project is addressing these issues through a comprehensive approach that includes physical restoration, community engagement, and ecological monitoring. This is a tall order for the Compact, especially since so much of the project goes right through the middle of an existing residential neighborhood. In the history of Tennessee and the Compact, a restoration project of this size has never been accomplished so close to residences. Therein lies the friction that has developed between some SV owners and the Compact team.
One of the very first steps in caring for the improved creek is stabilizing the streambanks. We all watched as the work was done this year. They reshaped and reinforced the creek banks with earthwork and the removal of invasive vegetation, while using native vegetation to take its place. This process not only reduces erosion but also improves water quality by filtering out pollutants. By restoring native plant species along the banks, the project enhances habitats for fish, insects, and other wildlife, creating a more resilient and balanced ecosystem. But this work, just like raising an infant, takes time and a number of intermediate steps must be accomplished before the task is done. The Compact has a plan for accomplishing the raising of this infant over the next seven years.
Still planned for 2024 is the planting of 15,000 more trees and shrubs along the upper section of the project. The Compact is also actively monitoring indicators of stream health like stream flow, aquatic habitat, bank erosion, native plant density and diversity, invasive species, and more. During the next seven years, the Compact will take corrective actions as needed to ensure that significant, measurable ecological gains are being made. All 44 acres of the project are protected from disturbance by a permanent conservation easement held by the Compact.
Hopefully this information answers some questions that have arisen by SV Owners, but anyone wanting a more in-depth look at the details of the project should read the excellent narratives authored by Compact staff at:
Here are some of the concerns voiced by Owners, followed by a brief response to those concerns.
Why does the area between the roads of Jackson Falls not look like Meriwether Park?
It would be most useful for those with that question to read the material featured in the links above. The short answer is that there is nothing natural about Meriwether Park. The water flowing though that area is not a significant tributary of Trace Creek and restoration of that stream is not included in the project. Further, though aesthetically pleasing, there is nothing natural about the Meriwether Park area. Turf grass does not grow down to the water in any natural area, and the tributary flowing through Jackson Falls is destined for a much higher calling with respect to making Trace Creek, Harpeth River, and the Cumberland River more healthy, and giving us all a ringside seat to a rural Tennessee stream and the diverse life attracted thereto.
Why are we not allowed to enter the project easement area?
As described here, work on the restoration of Trace Creek is ongoing. New plantings will be happening very soon. To protect the work and progress already achieved this year, the easement area needs to be allowed to heal and grow. However, long term, the Compact hopes to welcome visitors to the creek when it has more time to mature (see? It really is a lot like a baby), so the easement area will not be overwhelmed.
Why can’t we access the land which contained to disc golf course?
Provisions have been made in the design of the easements. There is at least one place where that access will be possible via designated break in the conservation easement. Of course, it is up to Rochford Realty and Construction to erect a bridge across the creek at the designated location. The Compact really has no responsibility for that.
What happened to the birds, frogs, and other wildlife that we enjoyed before the project started?
The project did temporarily displace some animals and aquatic life during this year’s heavy construction. However, the Compact staff expects that wildlife to return in a much more robust fashion as this baby begins to mature. Give it some time. Your favorite wildlife will return, and it will bring along more friends.
What are those beautiful yellow flowers we saw in late summer?
Those are Bearded Beggarticks, and they are stunningly beautiful. They will attract and enhance the population of a wide variety of butterflies and other pollinators. This is only the beginning of positive outcomes we will all enjoy from the Trace Creek Project.
Thanks go out to the Cumberland River Compact team for meeting with us on site to provide much of the information contained in this issue. The Cumberland River Compact actively works with local residents, farmers, and landowners to raise awareness about the importance of stream health and water quality. Through workshops, volunteer events, and partnerships with local schools, the organization fosters a sense of stewardship among community members, empowering them to take an active role in preserving their local environment. In fact they came up with the wonderful idea of implementing neighborhood naturalist events for SV residents that will focus on the unique ecology of the project. Think guided walks focused on tree or other plant identification, birding, or stream ecology. Stay tuned for a schedule of events starting in 2025!
It is hoped that this narrative will help everyone understand what we saw happening to Trace Creek during 2024. It is also fervently hoped that each and every one of you in SV has the most wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas season this year. Thank you all for the encouragement you give me to write these essays. You all are the best.
No comments:
Post a Comment