The Tennessee RiverLine is pleased to announce its collaboration with the UT One Health Initiative, which has recently bestowed a seed grant to fund a multidisciplinary research project aimed at safeguarding the health of the Tennessee River. This investment underscores our commitment to supporting endeavors that address the complex challenges impacting the health of our waterways.
The UT One Health Initiative's 2023 Multidisciplinary Research Seed Grant Program has awarded three grants, each totaling $40,000, to teams employing a One Health approach. This innovative strategy brings together diverse disciplines to tackle multifaceted issues, aligning seamlessly with the Tennessee RiverLine's stewardship priorities. The Tennessee RiverLine provided funding to support one of the three awarded grants.
Led by the dynamic faculty trio of Sarah Bolivar (School of Landscape Architecture), Mike Ross (Department of Plant Sciences), and Jason Brown (School of Art), the awarded project focuses on the prototyping of floating wetland and shoreline modules along the Third Creek Greenway. The overarching goal of the project, titled “Modular Landscapes: Tackling Water Quality through Arts and Science,” is to mitigate sediment and stormwater runoff, promote biodiversity of riparian plant species, and foster collaboration among students and local communities at the nexus of science, design, and art to combat and educate about water quality challenges.
“As an initiative of the UT Institute of Agriculture and UT Extension, the Tennessee RiverLine is committed to inspiring new generations of river stewards and advancing a body of knowledge, critical inquiry, and creative activity about our storied river,” said Brad Collett, Tennessee RiverLine Director. “We are proud to be able to advance these priorities in collaboration with students, staff, and scholars at the University of Tennessee like this team of collaborators.”
In the coming months, Third Creek Greenway users will notice floating wetlands equipped with new sediment sensors installed in the creek. Bank conditions and suspended sediment loads will be measured to understand the efficacy of floating wetlands to reduce erosion and improve water quality. Public art will also be installed that creates wildlife habitat and reduces stormwater runoff, testing researchers’ hypothesis that by creating visible shoreline structures that addresses water quality, greenway users will also have a more direct engagement with the collective labor required to clean water quality and support local ecosystems.
“The main strength of the One Health Initiative is in our partnerships with colleges, departments, units, and even individuals system-wide,” said Dr. Deb Miller, OHI Director. “Through these partnerships, we’ve been able to fund research teams that are tackling complex challenges—challenges that can only begin to be solved when everyone is invited to the table. The teams awarded with seed funding in the previous two rounds of the program have already generated over $4 million of external funds and provided invaluable training opportunities to UT students. We are excited to see this next round of projects take off and apply a One Health approach to these complex issues.”
While the Tennessee RiverLine team is not directly involved in the research, the provision of financial support underscores our dedication to advancing river stewardship and promoting public health, and the project findings will be shared and applied through the Tennessee RiverLine’s ongoing work across the river’s 652-mile reach. This project exemplifies the ethos of the Tennessee RiverLine, which strives to facilitate initiatives that contribute to the overall well-being of the Tennessee River.
Information about each project will be available soon on the OHI website.