Wow! What a year the LOC program has had! We have come so far in such
a short time. We have had thousands of people participate in hundreds of
educational opportunities across the Basin. We have reached hundreds
of elected officials and are now working hand-in-hand with many communities
to make changes that will last for generations.
Started in 2005, the Local Officials Cummunity Curriculum (LOC)
delivers high-quality water education directly to local offcials. This
comprehensive curriculum provides community leaders with valuable
information to make informed decisions about the water infrastructure
issues facing their community. The LOC program offers
over 35 different education courses taught by experts on water quality.
In addition, it facilitates public education and outreach such as
stream clean-ups, nature walks, and classroom instruction on a
variety of water resource issues.
A primary focus of the LOC program this past year was ordinance
changes. We worked with Montgomery County to establish 60 foot
buffers on all streams, rivers, and creeks within the county's jurisdiction.
Brentwood also passed a similar ordinance with help from the LOC
program. This equates to real protection for hundreds of miles of perennial
streams! Millersville has been collaborating with the LOC program to
overhaul all of their stormwater and zoning regulations and subdivision
ordinances. When finalized, they will encourage innovative practices like
pervious paving, rain gardens, and bioswales. Finally, the LOC program
was honored with its second Greater Nashville Regional Council award in
Water and Wastewater with new partners: Sumner County, Goodlettsville,
Millersville, Hendersonville, Gallatin, and Portland. This new partnership of
Sumner County communities has forged a process to work together to
make substantial changes in their codes and ordinances that promote
regulatory harmony across the county.
Our community partners face similar issues. These Phase II communities,
a mixture of urban and suburban, face extreme development pressures
and have a strong desire to mitigate water resource issues. With the
establishment of new laws and regulations, the LOC program and our
partners have ensured the protection of countless streams and creeks of
all sizes that will be felt beyond our lifetimes. With all of the promise and
progress we have made, we hope to bring even broader sweeping
changes to the communities in the future.
Know what the major Cumberland River pollutant is? Well, it is the DIRT and
the other "stuff" from our yards, our roofs and our driveways that runs off
every time we have a good rain.
If we all kept our dirt in our own yards, the river would be a lot healthier
and safer for everyone.
Visit the Sediment page to learn more about Muddy Waters and what YOU can do
to keep your dirt at home.
