march 2025 NEWSLETTER
Cleanup Season!
Tennessee Riverkeeper has removed more than 54,000 pounds of litter from waterways since 2018.
We started doing cleanups in 2018 when the Tennessee River became the poster child for freshwater microplastics after a National Geographic study and cover story.
Many organizations do cleanups, few file lawsuits against polluters. We continue to work on bigger picture solutions to litter, microplastics, and plastic pollution.
Thank y'all for your support!
Spring Cleaning
As cleanup season resumes, please pitch in and support our litter cleanup program. We will be announcing some spring cleanups soon. Please stay tuned to our social media sites and email blasts.
The cleanup program removes trash, mostly single-use plastics from creeks and rivers and shore lines. It reduces plastic pollution and microplastics in our water.
10 active cases on our legal docket:
Maynardville, TN: On January 9, 2025, Tennessee Riverkeeper mailed notice of intent to sue under the Clean Water Act to Mayor Ty Blakely of the City of Maynardville for failure to avoid overflows in their sewage collection system.
Stoners Creek, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper filed an environmental lawsuit against the owners of industrial property along Stoners Creek where a citizen reported a discharge of polluted water from a flow from a rocky area along the creek. Our scientist discovered the discharge contains pollutants consistent with industrial operations, including PFAS aka "forever chemicals." Riverkeeper will seek to have this discharge abated. Case no: 3:24-cv-00886, US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.
Stones River, TN: In a case very similar to Stoners Creek described above, Riverkeeper has brought suit against the owners of industrial property along Stones River where a citizen reported a discharge of polluted water from a flow from a rocky outcrop along the creek. Like at Stoners Creek, our scientist discovered the discharge contains pollutants consistent with industrial operations, including PFAS chemicals. Riverkeeper will also seek to have this discharge abated. Case no: 3:24-cv-00883, US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.
Lebanon Landfill, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit against the City of Lebanon, Tennessee over a closed landfill which we discovered is discharging pollutants containing PFAS chemicals to a tributary of Spring Creek, a tributary of Cumberland River. Riverkeeper seeks to have the discharge abated. Case no: 3:23-cv-01369, US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.
City of Celina, TN: On Friday, November 22, 2024, Tennessee Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit against the City of Celina for sewage pollution, including permit discharge limitation violations, mostly for Biochemical Oxygen Demand, but also Total Residual Chlorine, E.coli, Dissolved Oxygen and pH, and fifty overflow violations. The suit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, case number 2:24-cf-00079.
Kingston Springs, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper, Inc. recently filed a lawsuit under the Clean Water Act (CWA), against the Kingston Springs STP for violations of the CWA and the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act. The Kingston Springs Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) has had 1,099 days of Clean Water Act violations from July 2021 to April 2024, including overflows of raw sewage. David Whiteside said: “The Harpeth River is a Tennessee treasure, highly used for boating, swimming and fishing. This section of the Harpeth has boat accesses and is a point of entry for the Blueway canoe & kayak trail. The suit was filed October 16, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Tennessee, case number 3:24-cv-01241.
"Sky Nashville" in Nashville, TN: Sky Nashville is a large development located on a steep hill overlooking the city from the west at the junction of I-40 and I-440, north of Charlotte Avenue. The construction site, and pond of muddy water regularly flooding Delaware Avenue can be seen adjacent to the east bound lanes of the interstate. We filed a lawsuit on December 14, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Tennessee, case number 3:24-cv-01461.
Chapel Hill, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit against the City of Chapel Hill, Tennessee over numerous and repeated violations of the pollution discharge limits found in their permit. The main pollutant of concern is Biochemical Oxygen Demand. Case no: 1:24-cv-00050, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.
Barnes Dump in Nashville, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit against Robert Barnes a/d/a Barnes Fill Site. The suit alleges that Barnes is violating the CWA and RCRA due to operating a Construction and Demolition Landfill which discharges stormwater to tributaries nearby without first obtaining a NPDES permit for C&D Landfills. Barnes discharges enter Sulphur Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River. The suit was filed February 1, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Tennessee, case number 3:24-cv-00113.
"Dirt Mountain" in Nashville, TN: Our lawsuit against the owners and operators of the RR Farms Mass Grading site, which locals have designated “Dirt Mountain”, on Ashland City Highway near Pecan Valley Road continues to progress through the court. Case no: 3:23-cv-00878, US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.
15 Years Of Tennessee Riverkeeper!
Tennessee Riverkeeper turned 15 years old recently. We are thankful for your support.
Here is one of our first YouTube videos, uploaded January 9, 2010:
SPRING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Please click here to renew your support
"Forever Chemicals" Top 3 Ways To Lower Your Exposure
PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals," are widespread and have been found in the blood of 98% of Americans. These toxic substances are linked to serious health risks, including cancer, immune system suppression, high cholesterol, and reproductive issues. Because PFAS are used in countless consumer and industrial products, exposure occurs through contaminated drinking water, food, cookware, and even clothing. While these chemicals persist in the body for years, reducing exposure can help lower their levels over time.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize PFAS exposure. Read a new blog educating citizens.