North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy P.O. Box 358 Hixson, TN 37343 Summer 2002 2002 Greenway Challenge: A Great Success! Thirty-five (35) three-member teams participated in the 2002 Greenway Challenge Adventure Race on April 27. "The Greenway Challenge Adventure Race is not your typical race or fun run, " said Jim Farmer, race coordinator and NCCC board member. "This race is a unique combination of mental and physical tasks that the teams accomplished together." For the first leg, racers cycled from the Greenway Farm to the North Chickamauga Creek Greenway and back, stopping to complete a puzzle as a the first special test. Racers then paddled down North Chickamauga Creek to the Greenway, and completed team pushups before starting the running leg, which included the ropes course. Spectators waited at the finish line for the runners to complete the final special test: the slippery wall. Racers pushed their limits to scale the wall and raced across the finish line. Other events, in addition to the race, including canoeing tours of North Chickamauga Creek and the Chattanooga Photography Society's exhibit and sale of nature and landscape photography. Children participated in activities such as navigating a watershed maze, making birdfeeders, and planting wildflowers. Co-Ed Team Winners Team Rock Creek 1:34:18 Pic McGuffy 1:50:01 Last Minute Decision 1:51:57 Same-Sex Team Winners Patricia Williams 1:45:22 Bolas Azules Racing Team 1:54:47 Wide Spread Panic 1:59:12 News From The Stream Monitoring Program Anti-Litter Poster Funded by Boat U.S. Foundation Boat U.S. recently awarded a 2002 Clean Water Grant to NCCC. These funds will be used to reproduce a color poster designed for NCCC by UTC graphic arts student, Jason Sims and to construct two informational kiosks at canoe launches within the North Chickamauga Creek Watershed. If your business would like to display the poster or if you would like to volunteer to assist with the installation of the kiosks, call NCCC at (423) 877-0777. Norcross Wildlife Foundation Awards NCCC $5,600 We are pleased to announce receipt of a grant from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation to purchase custom water-quality monitoring kits for our Stream Monitoring Program. Each kit will contain tests appropriate for North Chickamauga Creek and its tributaries. The extra kits will enable our Program to function more efficiently. We currently have 8 trained volunteers. Second Training Session Held Training was recently held along Nine Mile Branch for our newest stream monitoring volunteers: Vicki Hill & Carrie Hill (North Chickamauga Creek at the Hixson Bi-Lo), Tina Tomaszewski (Nine Mile Branch), and Karen Stone (Little Falling Water). If you would like to participate, please contact us. NCCC Welcomes Summer Intern Jamon Bass has joined NCCC staff as our Summer 2002 intern. Jamon is a graduate student studying environmental science at UTC and expects to receive his master's degree in December 2002. Jamon is a Chattanooga native and played Varsity football while at UTC. He describes himself as friendly, determined and laid back. He said, "I'm excited to be named the summer intern for NCCC. This will be a great opportunity for me to meet many people around the community and assist in NCCC's efforts to preserve this beautiful watershed." Jamon's duties include collecting information for input into a Geographic Information System (GIS) database being developed for the North Chickamauga Creek Watershed, assisting in expanding NCCC's volunteer stream monitoring program, monitoring macro invertebrates in the creek and incorporating identification of same into the stream monitoring program. Wildflower Survey covers more area NCCC has continued its survey of populations of the federally listed wildflower, Scutellaria montana (large-flowered skullcap) within the North Chickamauga Creek watershed this spring with grant support from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Christine Bock is coordinating the effort. A number of knowledgeable wildflower enthusiasts are assisting, including Dr. Jerry Faulkner and Dr. Richard Clements of Chattanooga State Technical Community College. State Natural Area Spring Hike NCCC and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) co-hosted a hike of the "top or the ridge" (Flipper Bend) portion of the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area on April 13, 2002, for 25 participants. The hike was led by TDEC stewardship ecologist, David Lincicome, with help from Jon Beck and Debbie Glasscock. Wildflowers, scenic views, and Rattlesnake Rock, were some of the highlights of the hike. TDEC has received a grant to do trail work there this fall. Beta Club Clean-Up The Soddy Daisy High School Beta Club conducts periodic litter pickups at Bowater's North Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness in Soddy Daisy. We appreciate the example that they are setting and thank the Club's president, Joey Beauld, for his coordination of the stewardship effort. Additional groups interested in assisting are encouraged to contact us. Girl Scouts Present EarthPACT Projects Girl Scouts participating in the EarthPACT Program, coordinated by Jerri Phillips, presented the results of their work with their mentors at UTC on April 21, 2002. Jessica McNabb from Troop 53, mentored by Linda Hixon, presented her ideas for future Scout projects at the 12 acres behind the Hixson Bi-Lo that have been assembled for a future community park and greenway trailhead. Bethany Merrill from Troop 834 in Soddy Daisy, mentored by Angela Young, presented her findings from monitoring of the water quality of Poe Branch, a tributary stream of North Chickamauga Creek. Scouts participating in a Community Service Project at the 12-acre tract on December 7th will receive a special "Creek Chicks" patch. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Position Announcement Responsibilities: Development and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising plan to grow annual support base, including grant writing, donor relations, coordination of annual signature events and an annual fund drive. Qualifications: 2 or more years experience in development or equivalent fundraising experience, excellent organization and communication skills, and detail-oriented. Familiar with Microsoft Office. Salary commensurate with ability and experience. Apply by June 28th to: Executive Director, North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy, P.O. Box 358, Hixson, TN 37343. In lieu of mailing, applications may be faxed to (423) 870-8579 or may be e-mailed to . FARMLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM (FPP) Now Available in Tennessee The amount and the quality of farmland lost to development is a significant concern nationwide as well as in Tennessee. The Farm Bill recently enacted by Congress provides up to $50 million for FPP until September 30, 2002. Entities eligible to participate in the program include States, units of local government and nongovernmental organizations (such as land trusts); proposals to participate must be submitted by July 15th. FFP can fund up to 50% of the value of a conservation easement placed on the farm. A landowner can donate up to 25% of the value as part of the required match. If you have farmland that you would like to conserve and want more information, please call us at (423) 877-0777. NCCC's Wish List If you can donate any of the following items, please call us at (423) 877-0777. Office Equipment: Telephone system (at least 4-lines, call transfer, conference, full-duplex speakerphone, page and intercom, voicemail, and caller ID capability) Computer (at least 800 MHz processor, 128 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive, and USB ports; extras we'd like include a CD-RW drive, a 10/100 network card and a 17" monitor) Digital camera (at least 2 megapixels) Bookcase (18-28" wide x 64" high) Laser printer 20 GB hard drive (or computer matching above specs) Stream Monitoring Supplies Safety glasses Rubber gloves Distilled Water NCCC is a 501(c)(3) organization and all gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. NCCC would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2002 Greenway Challenge a success: The Adventure Guild The Baylor School Bicycle Parts Online Chattanooga Hamilton Co. Rescue Chattanooga Bike Club Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Chattanooga Track Club Chattanooga Bakery, Inc. Chattanooga OutVenture Chattem, Inc. City of Chattanooga Parks, Recreation, Arts & Culture The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga East Chattanooga Lumber & Supply Fast Break Athletics ImageWorks Johnson Waterhouse Kinko's Lookout Mountain Tomato & Banana Company McCallie School Outdoor Adventure Rafting Owen Cyclery Panera Bread Photographic Society of Chattanooga Road One Rock Creek Outfitters Sticky Fingers Restaurant & Bar Tennessee Aquarium TVA University of Tennessee at Chattanooga U.S. Office of Surface Mining Wal-Mart of Hixson Support NCCC With Bi-Lo's Booster Program You can sign up to support NCCC through purchases you make using a Bi-Lo BonusCard by calling toll-free 1-877-4-BOOSTER, or by visiting Bi-Lo's website at http://www.bi-lo.com. NCCC's Booster ID is 4210. How can you help? Without your support our conservation work would not be possible. Your contribution is appreciated. $25-99 Friend of the Greenway $100-499 Advocate of Clean Water $500-999 Conserver of the Watershed $1,000 + Protector of Land North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy P.O. Box 358 Hixson, TN 37343 Phone: (423) 877-0777 Email: contact@northchick.org Web: http://www.northchick.org