Trees, Garrison Creek, and The Mississippi River

In Tennessee, we associate the Mississippi River with Memphis and the Western part of the state. Did you know nearly ALL of Tennessee is part of the Mississippi River watershed? That includes Garrison Creek in Murfreesboro. 

A watershed is an area of land where water/precipitation collects and runs to a common source. Most of the the water from Tennessee land, rivers, creeks, streams, and waterways eventually flows into the Mississippi River. This includes Garrison Creek in Murfreesboro. You can learn more about watersheds in Tennessee here. Because trees help improve our water, this means a tree planted in Tennessee, including in your yard, helps the Mississippi River. The River truly connects us. 

River Days of Action - Garrison Creek Cleanup & Invasive Species Removal
On June 9 2022, Green Interchange participated in Mississippi River Network's, River Days of Action. Eight young people, as part of McFadden Community Center in Mufreesboro, TN, and four adults participated in this event. The group removed four 40-gallon bags of trash and recyclables and two invasive Bradford Pear Trees. Other partners included the Murfreesboro Stormwater and Street Departments, Middle Tennessee State University, Stones River Watershed Association, Middle Tennessee Electric, Tennessee Environmental Council, and Murfreesboro City TV- who filmed the event, which can be seen above or here.  ​

Garrison Creek in Murfreesboro - Fall 2022
On October 8, 2022. Green Interchange will continue working with Rutherford County and the Murfreesboro Stormwater and Street Departments to plant trees along Garrison Creek - a tributary of Bushman Creek. Details including volunteer registration will be available in August. 

​We’ll restore the upper section of this heavily impacted stream by planting along approx. 1,781 feet of the creek bank with about 300 native trees and 1,000 live stakes (willow or other cuttings that will take root). We’ll also maintain about 100 trees in the lower section of Garrison Creek with mulch, pruning, and replacement as needed.

Work on Garrison Creek was originally started in 2012: Because of a lack of stream-like characteristics, Garrison Creek was managed as a ditch for years. The stream is listed on TN's polluted streams list (i.e. 303 d list). Partners including the Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) teamed up to restore the LOWER portion of the creek in 2012. Green Interchange CEO John McFadden was CEO of TEC at that time.

Over the years, the partnership has targeted issues facing the lower section of the creek through: tree plantings, education and outreach, algae pulls, and clean-ups. Garrison Creek is slowly transitioning to a healthy stream with diverse habitat. This video shows the impressive 5-year progress. We're excited about the opportunity to achieve similar results on the UPPPER portion of the stream this fall.

As a member of the Mississippi River Network, Green Interchange works for the well-being of the people, land, water, and wildlife of America’s largest watershed. We encourage our supporters to get involved as River Citizens - people who want to clean up and protect our country's greatest River and the surrounding watershed. Whether in armchairs or wading boots, River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a big difference. Learn more and join. ​​