Facts and Information

Knox County is Washing Away Our Future Knox County Government does not protect us from irresponsible development and it is destroying our land and polluting our water.

Clean water requires quality leadership and change. The county's current practices to control stormwater runoff do not protect our property and our water.

Tell our County leaders to protect our children's future and demand water quality standards that protect our health and safety.

Our Safety at Risk Stormwater runoff is rainfall that runs of our land and paved surfaces, collecting sediment (mud) and other toxic contaminates - carrying them to rivers, creeks and streams.

Sediment carried in water increases flooding, impacts water supplies and navigation, degrades aquatic habitat and transports chemicals.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) consistently reports that sediment is the largest cause of pollution in Tennessee's waters.

More Flooding More new housing developments increase your chances of a flood. Lack of proper planning and inadequate stormwater laws account for increased flooding caused by new developments.

This causes farmland and areas with existing homes not originally built in flood plains to experience flooding.

Irresponsible County Leadership Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) grants variances for harmful housing developments without any professional expertise on the subject matter; with little respect for the community; and with no understanding of the long terms effects of granting the variances.

Knox County Department of Engineering and Public Works is not acting as a watchdog to ensure proper enforcement of Knox County's existing drainage standards.

Actions You Can Take

Protect Our Right to Clean Water

Follow the Law
We have local, state and federal laws that say our waters must be kept clean. The Alliance is working with a professional geologist and environments attorney to ensure Knox County's new stormwater ordinance follows these laws set up to protect our water and our property and that they will be properly enforced.

Require Water-Smart Planning
Implementing laws that protect our water and reduce the impacts of development should be REQUIRED and not up for debate.

The Knox County Department of Engineering and Public Works, the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC), and the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) should be enforcing laws that protect our water rather than treating the laws as mere recommendations - while we watch our land being flooded and our water polluted.

What Can You Do?

--- Take Photos
Take photographs to document stream pollution and flooding in Knox County. Take pictures of stream pollution and flooding in Knox County. Include the street name or subdivision name where you took the pictures. Send photos to the government listings below.
For help taking pictures, call James at (865) 689-1502.

--- Distribute petitions

--- Join us in our civil suit

--- Attend public and government meetings

---Write letters

--- Design and Distribute fliers
Attend meetings, public functions, neighborhood meetings and hand out fliers. Create awareness of the problem.

--- Participate on a KCCWA team or committee
Whether it's lobbying, writing letters, participating in civil lawsuits, your help and action is critical to the success

Links to More Help and Information

• American Rivers Stormwater Kit

• Citizens Agenda for the Rivers

Good News - Bad News

In The News:

• "Ragsdale, Wuethrich Jeopardize Clean Water and Individual Property Rights"This link to the Tennessee Clean Water Network pressroom includes to a news story, the press release, a memo sent to the mayor, and an outline of at least 11 points where Knox County ordinances do not meet state and federal clean water laws. Click Here

• "Cleaning Up Stormwater," by Gary Loe, WVLT-TV. The text of this TV report is available by clicking here.

• Stuck in the Mud: TDEC lax on sediment run-off from construction sites.  An analysis of the General Storm Water permit as it is applied to construction sites in Tennessee. Click here. For a copy of the press release, click here.

• "Builder ordered to pay for polluting, Could reach $95,000 at Brunswick Farms."For the news story, click here.

• American Rivers , click here for their Stormwater Toolkit.

• For the Citizens Agenda for the Rivers, click here.

Photo Gallery

Take pictures of stream pollution and flooding in Knox County. Include the street name or subdivision name where you took the picture. Send the pictures to the following people with this message: I'm frustrated with ongoing flooding in our neighborhoods and pollution in our streams. It must stop! Take action to make sure Knox County adopts an effective stormwater ordinance. Sign Your Name and add:Knox County Clean Water Alliance.

• Mayor Ragsdale, Knox County Mayor
  Email: mike.ragsdale@knoxcounty.org
  Mail: 400 Main St., Suite 615, Knoxville, TN 37902

Become a KCCWA Member

Membership Information	Click Here
Membership Form	Click Here
Contact:	Faye Loftis, (865) 523-2498, info@kccwa.org

Key Contacts

Knox County Clean Water Alliance (KCCWA)
2911 Tazewell Pike, Suite 200
Knoxville, TN 37918
(865) 523-2498

www.kccwa.org

E-mail: info@kccwa.org

• Knox County Clean Water Alliance membership information, Click here.

• For information from the Tennessee Clean Water Network, Click here.

• Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC), click here