The City of Russellville was recently awarded a check in the amount of $5,000 from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to be used towards a Wetlands Environmental Education Data WEED program.

The project will provide the opportunity for students to monitor water quality, plant trees to halt erosion, and educate others about the importance of of environmental stewardship.

The wetland program will be located at the city’s new sports complex on Armory Drive and will be a marriage of solid academics and commitment to community. Kids will realize the responsibilities they have for their own community, wherever they live.

It is the city’s hopes that just having the opportunity for hand-on studies at the wetlands can make science come to life for the kids, and give them a different viewpoint of what’s happening in their community.

A dedication sign will be displayed showing that the project was made possible by the generous donation from TVA.

Kay Simmons, grant writer for the city of Russellville, says Russellville is committed to the community it serves. “Russellville is fortunate to have a wetland located in the downtown area. There are many benefits of having a wetlands, such as to slow floodwaters, protect uplands from erosion, increase water quality, provide setting for recreation and study, supporting a diversity of wildlife across the landscape, moderate local climate, recharge groundwater and produce products used by humans,” said Simmons.

Wetlands are also referred to as “kidneys” of the landscape, because just like kidneys, they filer out the harmful materials.

“This project will provide the opportunity for a real-life science laboratory where students will learn in the outdoor classroom about wetlands, microbiology and ecosystems by working to save them,” said Simmons adding that the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has indicated that the federally-endangered Peregrine Falcon, Gray Bat and Indiana Bat are known to occur within 10 miles of the proposed project site. “This project is not only important to us,” said Simmons, “but to the nation’s wildlife.”

TVA manager Nancy Mitchell said the Tennessee Valley Authority is very happy to be able to partner with the City of Russellville on such a worthwhile project and that helping children realize the importance of preserving their environment while taking the opportunities to learn in the outdoor classroom goes along with TVA’s mission.