Watersheds and tributaries by Lavender K. and Ella H.

 On Wednesday, August 5, the freshmen River Fellows learned about the importance of watersheds. A watershed is surrounding land that drains rainwater into a larger body or stream. Mrs. Couch demonstrated that these areas often funnel pollutants like oil, large amounts of loose sediment, excrement, fertilizer, and pesticides into waterways, directly affecting the health of ecosystems and animals alike. 

When chemicals and excess amounts of soil are dumped into the river, crucial parts of the food chain like insect larvae are poisoned or smothered, losing their homes. Other animals like small fish no longer have a reliable food source, creating a chain reaction known as a trophic cascade.

To prevent this pollution, construction companies use silt fences when excavating large amounts of sediment. These barriers hold dirt in place and prevent it from sliding into bodies of water. Another method environmental engineers use is a constructed wetland, areas that both clean and soak up rainwater with nature's most effective filter, plants. The River Fellows have encountered these amazing spaces at both TNACI and later on around the RiverWalk.

After learning about watersheds, the tucker river fellows got the opportunity to visit different water sources across Chattanooga. Visiting four areas in total, each river fellow took notes and recorded their observations about each place. 

The first water source they visited was Citico creek, this area did not look extremely healthy. The water was almost stagnant and the water level was very low. The bridge overhead the area was keeping plant life away due to the lack of sunlight. There was lots of litter strewn across the bank. While the area was not extremely well kept, the bank did have a silt fence that the river fellows learned is one way the city can help keep the watershed healthy! However, part of the silt fence had fallen down, allowing silt and dirt into the creek.

The second water source that the fellows visited was at the mouth of the citico creek where it emptied into the Tennessee river. The area had more plant and animal life. There was a man-made rock bank preventing erosion, and almost no litter. Further out on the river, the fellows observed one of the main water sources of Chattanooga. 

The next place was South Chickamauga Creek. The area looked very healthy with lots of wildlife and plant life including butterflies, cicadas, crickets, dragonflies, varieties of fish, rivercane and english ivy (invasive). The water was relatively placid, and emptied out into the Tennessee river. 

One of the last places the fellows visited was the Tennessee River Dam. The dam is hydroelectric and operated by TVA. There was a drastic difference in the water level on each side of the dam. This is because while the dam is closed, the water builds up on one side and when the dam opens the water flows through and turns turbines inside the dam, generating power!