On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, three service-learning students from Tusculum College conducted a student-led wetland tour of the Paul E. Hayden Educational Wetland on the Greeneville campus, under the direction of the Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance.
Samantha Cochran, Chris Hutson, and Preston Tucker provided attendees with information on stormwater wetlands, history of the on-campus wetland, as well as facts about the importance of wetlands in protecting water quality. All three students are juniors, with Cochran majoring in psychology and Hutson and tucker majoring in business.
“Being able to work with Kristen and work on my leadership skills was the best part,” said Cochran. Hutson added, “The wetland is an important asset to our campus and the Greene County community.”
Stormwater wetlands function to filter nutrients and pollutants from nearby runoff, with the Paul E. Hayden Educational Wetland draining runoff from the campus before it is deposited into College Creek, running alongside the wetland area. College Creek is on the Environmental Protection Agency’s 303d list of impaired streams and is one of 58 impaired streams in Greene County.
By students sharing information on the importance of wetlands, they are encouraging environmental stewardship and protection of our valuable water resources. Tucker said, “We need to do all we can for the Nolichucky; it is vital to this community.”
MNWA appreciates all the effort put in by Tusculum students in protecting our watershed. For information on scheduling a tour of the Paul E. Hayden Educational Wetland, please contact Appalachia CARES AmeriCorps Member Kristen Lane at mnwa.tn@gmail.com.
Tusculum students learn from leading Wetlands tour.
By Kristen Lane ’14