Who & What?

Building Outside the Box (BOB) is a project to demonstrate sustainable building practices and stream restoration techniques that improve water quality in three impaired streams in the Cumberland River Basin. The project was created in response to growing regional development pressures that impact our water quality. It addresses the problem of sediment - the # 1 pollutant in the Basin - by demonstrating how Low Impact Development is both feasible and profitable for developers, builders and homeowners.

This three year project has the following components: 1) Four demonstration sites for low impact residential construction and farm practices, 2) stream restoration practices on three impaired streams, 3) water quality monitoring of results, and 4) shared information through an educational curriculum and the Southeast Watershed Assistance Network (SWAN) website. The Cumberland River Compact leads the project in partnership with Building Outside the Box (BOB) Committee and the Center for Living Watersheds. It is made possible through grants from the USEPA, TN Department of Agriculture, TVA and many other supporting partners on the BOB Committee.

Where?

BOB project sites are in three watersheds in the Basin:

• Red River
• Middle Cumberland
• Harpeth River

The Red River site is a 200-acre farm on Pleasant Grove Creek in Logan County, KY. The Middle Cumberland has two BOB sites. One is an affordable housing development on Franklin Branch, a tributary to Mill Creek in Nashville, TN. The other is a multi-family urban infill site in Germantown, North Nashville,TN. The Harpeth River site is a 620-acre Low Impact Development site on the Harpeth River in Franklin, TN. In each of these three impaired watersheds BOB has a construction demonstration site and stream restoration projects under planning and development.

When?

The project began in July 2003 and aims for completion of on-the-ground work by July 2007. Educational programs, field days, and tours will continue through 2007 and beyond. The BOB Committee meets on the second Thursday of each month and interested parties are welcome. A calendar of BOB educational opportunities, educational materials for builders and homeowners, and project updates can be found on the BOB page of the SWAN website listed below.

Why?

Conservation design and sustainable building practices improve water quality and benefit everyone:

• Developers and builders win with better quality product, higher profits, lower liabilities and callbacks.
• Homeowners benefit with higher quality sustainable homes, improved health, and lower utility costs.
• Communities win with sustainable neighborhoods, lower infrastructure costs, and higher quality of life.

For more information contact:
Gwen Griffith, Project Director
(615) 353-0272 / crcproject@aol.com

Resource Sites:

Green Communities for Clean Water" - River Voices May 2008 (Vol 18, No 1)
http://www.cumberlandrivercompact.org/pdf/RV18.1WEB.pdf

Metro Nashville Stormwater www.nashville.gov/stormwater

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid

The Low Impact Development Center www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/

Stormwater Management Resource Center www.stormwatercenter.net/

Center for Watershed Protection www.cwp.org

TVA - TN Growth Readiness & Native Plant Selector www.tva.gov/environment

Green Building Council - LEED Program www.usgbc.org

Earth Craft House www.earthcrafthouse.com and www.southface.org

Building Science www.buildingscience.com

Southeast Watershed Assistance Network (SWAN) www.watershed-assistance.net