By Jay Langston

Editor

Sometimes you’ve got to get a little mud on you to know you’re in touch with nature, and that’s what nearly 65 people did at the dedication of the new wetland observation platform at Henry Horton State Park last Friday.

Construction of the observation deck was made possible through the teamwork between the Friends of Henry Horton State Park, some General Motors employees, and park staffers. A $10,000 donation from GM for construction materials didn’t hurt either. GM’s Spring Hill plant Facility Manager Greg Spears lend some of his professional expertise, as well as an ample amount of hammer swinging and sawdust. “It was a labor of love,” Spears said. “I was here every day of construction.” Spears has worked for GM for a few years, and is a native of Lawrence County. Spears led a team of volunteers from Johnson Contractors and Boldt Construction to plan, gather materials, and complete the construction of the observation deck. The team of up to seven volunteers put in more than 550 hours of labor.

The volunteers just beat the recent rains in getting it all pulled together. The wetland area had been dry after last fall’s drought conditions. “To say that this area was a wetland was not a surprise,” Chapel Hill City Manager Mark Graves said. “Within a week it was flooded,” Graves added, shortly after construction was completed. “A week later we had ducks and frogs.”

“As a long-time member and leader in the TN Environment Council, I salute the efforts and support of TEC for this project,” Shari Meghreblian, TDEC’s Deputy Commissioner said. “This time last year we were here with our families planting trees for 50k tree day. I think these here at the wetland fared far better than many others in the drought this year.”

“As a personal friend of Stacey Cothran, I’m just grateful for all she does for Henry Horton and Tennessee’s environment,” Meghreblian said, “As Deputy Commissioner for the Environment at TDEC, I’m especially proud that our department has been instrumental in restoring this 65-acre agricultural field to its original wetland state.”

This project has successfully reintroduced one of the most diverse ecosystem types back into the region, while improving local water quality, the Deputy Commissioner added.

The wetland is a converted agricultural field was drained more than 100 years ago for use as farm land. The land lies in a natural floodplain along the 269-mile Duck River, making it a fertile site for farming, but an even more appropriate site for an ecosystem restoration project, Meghreblian added.

The wetland will provide crucial habitat for native flora and fauna while also serving as a model and teaching tool for future restorations across the state and country. “I can’t wait for students from Chapel Hill Elementary to come out here as part of their outdoor environmental education program,” Meghreblian said. “It will be a terrific model of a successful ecosystem restoration project that will help to conserve and protect Tennessee’s waterways and drinking water while providing a real-life teaching tool.”

Re-flooding and re-planting the land was necessary. The field had been raised for agricultural use and before it could be flooded it had to be lowered to its original level and drainage points controlled to prevent water from entering the area too soon. Additionally, berms had to be rebuilt. Once the berm system was nearly complete, TDEC coordinated a crew of workers to plant a mix of wetland seeds prior to flooding the area. “Here I need to give a shout out to Ronnie Bowers and our team in the Division of Water Resources that provided expertise and coordination that ensured water returned to the wetland and produced this newly constructed habitat,” Meghreblian said. “this newly restored wetland will benefit the region’s ecological and human health, providing both safe drinking water and improved flood management. Stormwater filtration is an important function of the wetland, particularly due to the fact that the wetland flows into the Duck River.”

The Duck River provides more than 250,000 region residents with their drinking water, and is recognized as one of the most diverse freshwater rivers in the world. It supports more than 151 species of fish, 60 freshwater mussel species, and 22 species of aquatic snails.

Wetlands are nature’s sponge soaking up water and releasing it slowly into our state’s rivers, waterways, and groundwater aquifers,” Meghreblian concluded. “Wetlands cleanse and filter sediment runoff from stormwater and reduce chemical content. The process showcased at this site provides Tennesseans with clean drinking water as well as healthy habitat for aquatic species and wildlife.”

General Motors expanded their ideals of environmental responsibility beyond their corporate properties when they reached out to help with the Horton Park project. “Collaborating with our neighbors and local organizations such as Friends of Henry Horton allows us to spread our environmental knowledge and inspire more eco-friendly action in the cities where we operate,” Plant Manager Ken Knight said. “We are proud to have contributed to this special project that encourages community engagement with an important state park in Middle Tennessee.”