MARCH NEWSLETTER
SPRING CLEANING SEASON!
1,371 lbs removed March 7. Next cleanup is April 12.
Approximately 1,371 pounds of trash was removed from Huntsville’s Spring Branch on March 7 thanks to our volunteers with Model Environment and The Orion Amphitheater. Here is some press with video footage and more information:
NEW BLOGS
Fighting Illegal Construction Dumps: Tennessee Riverkeeper continues to investigate and build cases against a growing number of illegal construction and demolition dumps in Nashville. Our organization has filed federal lawsuits against two, and subsequently a Stop Work Order was issued by the city against one of those based on our court ruling.
Toxic Tires Threaten Water Quality: Tires negatively impact water quality. They are frequently discarded in the environment by individuals or companies trying to avoid small tire disposal fees (usually around $5 per tire). Tires have to be shredded at a special facility before going into a landfill, hence the disposal fee. People in the United States learned the hard way that tires cannot go to regular landfills with the occurrence of tire fires, which is a running joke in The Simpsons.
LEGAL DOCKET
Three major updates from the previous newsletter. Tennessee Riverkeeper has 9 active cases on our legal docket:
Springfield, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit under the Clean Water Act against the City of Springfield, TN on March 10, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Springfield has allowed thirty-eight overflows since August 31, 2021.
Decaturville, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper sent a notice of intent to file a lawsuit under the Clean Water Act against the Town of Decaturville, TN, on March 6, 2026. Decaturville has reported 610 days of violation since October 31, 2023. The Town exceeded their discharge limits for Total Nitrogen, total suspended solids, as well as some other pollutants.
Dirt Mountain (Nashville): Tennessee Riverkeeper has filed an appeal of the Court’s decisions in the Dirt Mountain case. The appeal was filed with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on February 26, 2026.
RECENTLY CONCLUDED:
Maynardville, TN: Tennessee Riverkeeper’s lawsuit under the Clean Water Act against the City of Maynardville for pollution overflows in their sewage collection system has been settled. Maynardville will be required to take certain actions designed to improve operation of the treatment plant and to stop the overflows alleged in the Complaint. When completed, these actions should bring Maynardville into compliance with their Permit and the Clean Water Act. Case number: 3:25-cv-00208 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
RECENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES
ALABAMA:
“Huntsville Center assists with munitions cleanup process”
“New ‘groundbreaking’ nuclear reactors coming to Alabama: What this means for utility prices”
TENNESSEE:
“Annual Tree Day seeks to restore storm ravaged Middle Tennessee tree canopy”
NATIONAL:
“Microplastics in Air: Five Critical Things to Know About Microplastics and Your Lungs”
50,000 ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Thanks to you, we are growing faster than ever on almost every social media platform.
In a few short weeks since December 2025, Tennessee Riverkeeper has grown to become the 3rd largest Waterkeeper organization on social media overall out of approximately 300 worldwide.
You help represent approximately 50,750+ supporters across Tennessee Riverkeeper's social media channels. We have reached our goal of 50,000!
Social media, the press, and this newsletter are very important methods for the organization to educate the public about water and the pollution that threatens our communities.
Please join us on these sites if you are not already, share and encourage your friends and family to join as well:
NEW VIDEOS + OUR ACTIVE YOUTUBE
Most folks have a YouTube account even though they don't upload videos. We are trying to grow our social media in many places. YouTube is an old, reliable platform that continues to grow in importance. Please subscribe to our channel.
Shoutout in The Caverns from Railroad Earth!
Huntsville Cleanup Highlight Reel
Get Involved
Tennessee Riverkeeper protects the water supply for more than 6.3 Million Southerners. Together we are stronger!
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