State and Local Agencies Announce Nashville Urban Runoff 5K, Water Quality Festival
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry, Nashville’s Metro Water Services and the Tennessee Stormwater Association are teaming up to host the 2nd annual Nashville Urban Runoff 5K and Water Festival on Saturday, October 25.
“We are very excited to co-host the 2nd annual 5K in Nashville,” TDEC Deputy Commissioner Shari Meghreblian said. “This is a great educational event that gives participants an opportunity to enjoy a downtown run while viewing green stormwater management practices in the area.”
The run begins at the Bicentennial Mall, a preserved open/”green” space in the heart of downtown Nashville, and weaves its way past several innovative “green” stormwater management practices that include Deadrick Street (Tennessee’s first green street) and Nashville’s Public Square. As runners meander down Deadrick Street, they will notice an aesthetically pleasing corridor that incorporates sustainable stormwater designs such as porous pavement and bioswales, which allows much of the stormwater that would otherwise flow untreated into storm drains, to be filtered and absorbed by native plants. Anchoring Deadrick Street to the East, runners will notice Nashville’s Public Square, a 2.25 acre green roof over a multi-layered subterranean parking garage. This green roof is designed to absorb and clean stormwater, while also harvesting clean rainwater into the 57,000 gallon below-grade cistern for reuse as irrigation. In addition to viewing examples of ”green” stormwater practices along the route, the race will also parallel and highlight a section of the Cumberland River, Nashville’s most precious water resource for which innovative stormwater design concepts will be key in preserving for future generations.
“This event highlights both the innovative infrastructure changes and the individual actions that have, together, improved water quality in the Cumberland River,” Metro Water Services Director Scott Potter said. “From installing green roofs to picking up litter, everyone plays an important part in keeping our water clean.”
Net proceeds from this event benefit the Tennessee Stormwater Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting local government entities in their efforts to comply with State and Federal clean water laws and Stormwater Regulations promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; and through such assistance, to protect and improve the quality of the waters of Tennessee.
Interested participants can register at https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=10007853. The event is also listed at http://www.active.com/nashville-tn/running/races/2nd-annual-nashville-urban-runoff-5k-2014.
Entry fees are $30. Online registration closes at 4 p.m. on Oct. 24. A performance T-shirt is included with registration. Please state your size during the registration process.
For more information, visit http://tnstormwater.org/blog/uro5k/ or e-mail nashvilleurbanrunoff@gmail.com.