Rural areas are important for overall water quality in the Harpeth and waterways around Middle TN. One of our urgent priorities is to expand support so we can work with partners to: foster joint efforts among cities and counties in the region, explore ways other communities in the US have handled these challenges, review current planning efforts, and form consensus on next steps, and work on their adoption. We need to create a coalition effort with the farm-to-table movement, agricultural land owners, and historic preservation, land preservation, smart growth, and transportation planning interests. We need to work with key local and state leadership to enable coordination of short- and long-term large rural landscape protection efforts and implement them in TN.
We are currently working actively with citizens’ groups to shape the future of Williamson County through the Williamson County comprehensive land use update.
Harpeth Conservancy has long been active in similar issues. We helped educate area residents to the potential loss of unique resources associated with the construction of I-840. We helped area residents recognize the issues presented, help them with what needs to be done, and how to organize their efforts. We were able to work with area residents to get the highway’s route changed to protect the Kelley Creek natural area.