Updated: 7 days ago
The garden planted in October 2023 has matured and is coming together very nicely. A small group gathered to evaluate the health of the plants and begin the process of weeding out the plants that have volunteered to share the space. We also have updated the website with photos of the species found in the garden.
Updated: Jul 2
This June, WATeR celebrated National Trails Day with a Scavenger Hunt Hike on the Baker Hollow Branch of the East Lakeshore Trail! Designed for Loudon County families, the event combined outdoor adventure with hands-on learning, giving participants the chance to explore nature while identifying native plants and trees along the trail.
Armed with clue sheets and the free iNaturalist app, families set out to spot as many items on our scavenger list as possible, earning points toward prizes along the way. The morning combined the best of summer learning: fresh air, exercise, and a closer look at the plants and trees that make our watershed special.
Those who joined us had a wonderful time on the trail, soaking up nature, learning new skills, and enjoying a relaxed morning of discovery together. Their enthusiasm is exactly why WATeR believes events like this matter — they connect families to the outdoors and to the East Lakeshore Trail in a fun, memorable way.
We're grateful to TVA for their continued support of our trails events, The Brethen Foundation for their generous support in making this event possible, and to everyone who helped bring the Scavenger Hunt Hike to life. Stay tuned — we're already planning our next trail adventure!
WATeR has developed an Automated Temperature Monitoring system, with five monitoring stations situated around the Reservoir. Each station consists of a 10' PVC pipe attached to a floating buoy, tethered to a hosting dock. The Tube has temperature probes at the 1', 5', and 10' levels. Air temperature is monitored as well.
The temperatures are recorded continuously, and transmitted by a cellular transmitter to a central site where the data is accumulated. Power for the unit is provided by a solar power generator with a 10ah battery.
Water Temperature is an important factor influencing the fisheries, aquatic vegetation, and algae growth. The temperature information we gather will help in tracking developments in these important areas.
The temperatures are recorded continuously, and transmitted by a cellular transmitter to a central site where the data is accumulated. Power for the unit is provided by a solar power generator with a 10ah battery.
Water Temperature is an important factor influencing the fisheries, aquatic vegetation, and algae growth. The temperature information we gather will help in tracking developments in these important areas.
This project has been implemented by Bruce Rein (shown above), Gary Zika (data manager), and Cecil Clontz (Technology Guru and inventor). The need for the project was identified by Bill Waldrop, and initial implementations conducted by Lloyd Hensley.