Case studies are organized into broad categories given above (click on them to view) and will be added to on a regular basis. They are excellent, interesting examples and sources of information available to your community group or agency.  If you have any innovative projects that you believe would make a great case study please e-mail the information to cs@southeastwaterforum.org.

Alabama Water Watch began in 1992 and has conducted more than 1,000 workshops in nine levels of physical, chemical and biological monitoring for about 4,000 citizen volunteers.  Monitors have cumulatively submitted over 40,000 data records from 1,800 sites on 700 waterbodies using EPA-approved protocols.  About 80 percent of data records are currently entered by monitors into a customized database via the Internet and all data may be accessed, analyzed, mapped and graphed online by the general public.

There are three ways in which AWW data have been used for watershed management:
1) solving water quality problems at the local level through education, neighbor-to-neighbor persuasion and local ordinances, 2) adding or removing streams from the 303(d) list, developing TMDLs and including the data in the 305(b) report to Congress by the state regulatory agency, and 3) development of watershed management plans on various scales by stakeholder groups.  Most AWW monitors do not seem to be deterred by the slow pace of using their data for watershed improvements, and about 80 citizen groups consistently test water because it is “the right thing to do,” personally enriching and enjoyable.

Morgan Park Place is a 72-unit, multi-family development in the Germantown area of downtown Nashville.  Morgan Park Place recently completed phase one of construction and received Earth Craft Certification and is EPA Energy Star Qualified.  View a pictorial narrative of the site and its sustainable building features on the BOB website or by downloading a pdf of the narrative here. 

Banklick Creek begins as a low spot in the tall grass at the edge of a strip of woods in southwestern Kenton County, a trickle of clear water a squirrel could jump across. When it ends 19 miles later at the Licking River on the southern edge of Latonia, the creek is a muddy, muggy, slow-moving body as wide as a good cast from a spinning reel.

Its meandering, squiggly route has taken it through farmland, along railroad tracks, under highways and past an assortment of schools, shopping centers, sewer plants, ball fields, industrial parks and cemeteries. It's a long journey, and one that is deadly to the creek and its small inhabitants.

Along the way, Banklick and tributaries such as Brushy Fork and Bullock Pen Creek collect all the excess rain that falls on 58 square miles of Kenton and Boone counties, an area called the Banklick watershed. They also collect everything the rain scours off the land, lawns and parking lots - including raw sewage from broken and poorly designed sewage systems, gasoline and oil residue, herbicides, pesticides, creosote, fertilizer, cow manure, litter and mud.

The contaminants have earned Banklick a notorious reputation among natives - and an unwanted distinction: a seemingly permanent spot on the state of Kentucky's impaired waters list. But that distinction has also gained the creek some friends.

The Banklick Watershed Council, a group of activists who organized in 2002 under the mission of restoring the biological, chemical and physical integrity of the creek, recently unveiled a 38-page action plan evaluating the future of the creek. The plan sets four goals - clean the water, reduce flooding, restore the banks and honor the heritage - and discusses how those goals will be met.

University of Nebraska Lincoln has published a case study report on Burlington County, New Jersey as part of a larger report, Farm Viability in Urban Areas.

This online Conservation Planning Tool is designed to provide web-based conservation assistance to help landowners on the urban fringe understand the importance of their land in preserving their local rural heritage, local water quality and water supplies, and wildlife habitat.

A cooperative effort being piloted in central Tennessee, this planning tool provides case studies of local landowners who are implementing land conservation practices and best management practices. It highlights farmland preservation strategies, provides online tutorials, fact sheets and an email link for requesting technical assistance.

The feed-back e-mail system monitored by the Southeast Watershed Forum staff will direct requests for assistance to the appropriate program partner; the Land Trust for Tennessee, Harpeth River Watershed Association, Williamson County Soil and Water Conservation District, NRCS staff, or the Extension office.

It is hoped that this user-friendly web-based tool will encourage farmland preservation on the urban fringe and encourage installation of best management practices to maintain and improve local water quality and quality of life. It is hoped that this pilot will be expanded regionally to serve other counties facing similar threats to their rural heritage.

From The Tennessean.com & the Fairview Observer
October 2008

Fairview Mayor Ken Brison reveals a new sign to be posted at the entrance to Bowie Nature Park, recognizing the park as property now protected by a conservation easement. The sign generated a round of applause following the official signing of the conservation easement. The signing ceremony took place prior to last Thursday night’s City Commission meeting at City Hall before a large crowd of park enthusiasts. John Stark, former Fairview mayor and activist for park protection, summed up the thoughts of many in the room, “This has been a long time coming!” City Commissioner Wayne Hall added, “The light is shining on Fairview tonight.”

Green Building Community Case Studies - 2012

The report identifies why and how local governments have developed green building programs. It appears the motivating factors have been many, from meeting air quality standards, to reducing infrastructure costs, to saving energy costs and promoting a green image. The 125-page report contains highlights of the economic benefits from green building programs, factors that encourage green building programs, 16 case studies of community green building programs, a chart comparing 48 communities and their green building practices, and an appendix with additional information and web links.

The project was conducted on behalf of the Southeast Smart Growth Network, a consortium of over 20 universities, organizations and agencies working in southeastern communities to help implement smart growth policies and practices. Additional information on green building practices is also available from the EPA's Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Communities available at: www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/partnership/tools.html.

Or, go to http://www.southeastwaterforum.org/ to view individual state / city case studies.

Green Building Report - Spring 2012

Presentation from the Southeast Watershed Forum's conference, Building Sustainable Communities for the 21st Century, held August 12-14, 2008 in Charleston, SC.

Greensboro Smart Growth by Russ Clegg, AICP, Dept. of Housing and Community Development

International Paper, The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund Protect 218,000 Acres of U.S. Forestland Through Historic Land Acquisition Project.

 September 9, 2009 - 69.03 Acres in Harvest Donated by Aronov Realty Management

HUNTSVILLE –  Located at the corner of Hwy. 53 and Jeff Road, the newly preserved property is now part of the almost 6,000 North Alabama acres protected and managed by The Land Trust.  According to Executive Director Cynthia Parker, “The Land Trust is thrilled that Aronov Realty Management chose to protect the majority of the Harvest Shopping Center parcel by donating it to The Land Trust.  These acres, including the special feature of Dry Creek, will remain green and undeveloped – protecting animal habitat and hardwoods forever.”

Presentation from the Southeast Watershed Forum's Conference, Building Sustianable Communities for the 21st Century, held August 12-14, 2008 in Charleston, SC.

Case Study in Sustainable Community Development - Mixon, SC.
Alyssondra Campaigne, I’On Group

The Watershed Quintilogy - Digital Videos from Virginia Village Productions:  

• On the Edge — The Potomac River Dyke Marsh
• Reining in the Storm — One Building at a Time
• Laying Down Roots — The Neighborhood Tree Program
• Reclaiming Our Water — The Occoquan River Watershed
• Reviving an Urban Stream — Four Mile Run