EPA Ends Response Activities for Hickman Creek Fish Kill at Alexandria

December 11, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Four months after an investigation into what caused a fish kill in Hickman Creek at Alexandria, the US Environmental Protection Agency has wrapped up its response activities there concluding that “the source of the impaired conditions was a seep of contaminated groundwater coming from the bank” but that “recent water samples show that the water quality of the groundwater flowing into the creek has significantly improved”

The EPA released a public notice on the findings Friday but may have left some questions in the minds of the public yet unanswered.

Although the investigation evaluated infrastructure near the creek and a drainage line at a nearby manufacturing facility, the EPA did not identify that as the reason for the problem in the public notice nor specify the substance that caused the contamination.

The public notice states as follows:

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the source of impaired conditions in Hickman Creek was a seep of contaminated groundwater coming from the bank. On August 7, 2021, a discharge of unknown material resulted in a fish kill in Hickman Creek. It was estimated at the time that there were 2,000 dead fish and crustaceans in a 1 to 1.5-mile segment of the creek. Low levels of dissolved oxygen were found along with black, grey, and brown discolored water”.

“EPA initiated a response action that included aeration of water in Hickman Creek and collection of groundwater from a sump that was installed to intercept the seep before it reached the creek. From August through November, approximately 400,000 gallons of groundwater was removed and transported to a specialized wastewater treatment facility. EPA also began an investigation into the potential source and content of the release into Hickman Creek as well as an assessment of the impacts and extent downstream. The investigation evaluated infrastructure near the creek and a drainage line at a nearby manufacturing facility. EPA and its contractors collected several water samples for laboratory analysis. Recent water samples show that the water quality of the groundwater flowing into the creek has significantly improved. Based on these results, the EPA On-Scene Coordinator, in consultation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), determined that the EPA’s operations to remove groundwater are no longer necessary”

A concerned citizen apparently made the discovery of the dead fish and minnows in the creek on Monday, August 9 and reported it to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency who then contacted the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. What EPA contractors found was an unknown substance seeping into the creek, believed to have contributed to the fish kill, which was coming from the creek bank behind the Alexandria Senior Citizens Center. The affected area of Hickman Creek was located from Edgewood Street in Alexandria, approximately one and a half mile downstream to the Highway 53 Bridge. A staging area was established there with a sump well which was dug to catch and contain the substance before any more of it could get into the creek.

Representatives on site during the response activities included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA contractors, the Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation (TDEC), the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), DeKalb County Emergency Management, and the Town of Alexandria and representatives.

December 10, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County High School, through a partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in McMinnville, has been awarded a $125,000 GIVE Community Grant to invest in new carpentry tools and equipment for the building trades class and to offer students in the program technical college credit opportunities through dual enrollment.

GIVE stands for the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education 2.0 and is designed to facilitate the alignment of local workforce and education partners through a $25 million competitive grant process. The main goal of this program is to provide specialized technical education in the fields of Building Construction and Welding Technology to secondary students as a dual enrollment course.

“It’s really a win-win for us,” said Brad Leach, Career and Technical Education Director at DCHS.” We partnered with TCAT in McMinnville back in August and helped them in writing the grant and we found out last Friday that we had received the grant for $125,000. It will be used to help prepare students for post-secondary education at TCAT McMinnville in carpentry along with buying brand new equipment and supplies for our carpentry shop at DCHS. It’s a real great award for us to be able to do that. Gary Caplinger, our Carpentry Class teacher, and I will be working with TCAT McMinnville over the next year to get our program in line with theirs,” said Leach.

On average, a high school student can earn approximately 224 clock hours per year in a TCAT dual enrollment course. This means that a high school student who enrolls in Building Construction or Welding for both the Junior and Senior years can earn enough technical college credit to also be awarded the first level certificate within their respective program. This gives the high school graduate a tremendous advantage in that he/she can enroll into the full-time TCAT program and graduate in less time; Also, these early postsecondary credential opportunities will provide local employers the chance to hire skilled laborers in their respective fields, thereby easing the growing workforce demand.

Under the grant program, the DCHS will partner with at least two industries or businesses in providing guidance and insight, advice, work-based learning opportunities, and job-placement.

“Locally, we are working with two local industries/businesses with this grant, Curtis Builders Supply and Centro Cabinetry. They are offering us the ability to do some work-based learning with our students. I want to thank them (Curtis Builders Supply and Centro Cabinetry) for their involvement in this program in bringing kids in to where they can actually go out and do internships and participate in work-based programs to learn more about carpentry and what is involved in it,” said Leach.

Caplinger said this grant will be of great help in updating tools and equipment in the carpentry shop.

“Although we have some updated tools this shop needs updating. Some of the tools in here are older than I am and although they are still pretty good the modern equipment is much easier to run,” said Caplinger.

The DCHS building trades program, which for years constructed homes and tiny houses, now primarily builds storage buildings and hunting blinds.

“I appreciate the Governor and his investments in our vocational programs as well as the support we have received from our Director of Schools and the Board of Education in this endeavor,” said Leach.

December 10, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Emergency Services Association (DESA) will be preparing and delivering hot meals and sack lunches to the needy or underserved on Christmas Eve Friday, December 24.

Each plate lunch will consist of baked ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll, and a dessert. Sack lunches will be provided for recipients to enjoy later.

More than 500 food trays were prepared and delivered on Thanksgiving morning.

Cooking and food preparation will begin early Friday morning, December 24 at the county complex kitchen. Volunteers will then load their personal vehicles with food trays and set out to deliver them in time for the recipients’ noon time meal.

Those who received a Thanksgiving meal will not need to sign up for the Christmas Eve list but please text or call 615-390-0297 or 615-712-4286.

Anyone who would like a meal but did not receive one on Thanksgiving should call 615-390-0297 or 615-712-4286.

Volunteers who would like to help on Christmas Eve should call 615-390-0189.

Donations can be made by venmo @Blake-Cantrell-4, by calling 615-390-0189, or stop by Wilson Bank & Trust.

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