Knox County Stormwater has received a $115,000 grant to improve water quality in Stock Creek in South Knox County, according to Mayor Glenn Jacobs. The grant came through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Nonpoint Source Grant Program.
The grant will help property owners fix failing sewer systems and prevent waste from livestock from entering the creek.
Stock Creek is on Tennessee’s 303(d) list of impaired streams for high levels of bacteria that are known to cause health problems for humans and a sediment impairment to a small tributary to the creek. According to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Stock Creek bacteria problem is due to failing septic systems and runoff from poor pasture on agricultural properties.
The grant will address both causes of pollution with $65,000 to help homeowners fix failing septic systems and $30,000 for agricultural improvements. The grant will also address the sediment problem on Casteel Branch, a small stream in the watershed. The grant will pay 75 percent of the cost of septic-system repairs and 85 percent for agriculture improvements.
To determine if you live in the Stock Creek Watershed go to Knox County’s website and look at the roadmap of the watershed. Or click here.
Call Knox County Stormwater at 865-215-5540 for information on septic-system improvements; call the Knox County Soil Conservation District at 865-523-3338, ext. 3, for information about the agriculture portion of the grant.
This is the third grant awarded to Knox County Stormwater by TDA for Stock Creek in the past 10 years.