Brothers honored for helping improve marina's condition

2002-11-20
by Thomas Fraser
of The Daily Times Staff

The waters around Louisville Landing Marina are cleaner and clearer these days.

Tennessee Valley Authority water sampling at the marina on Fort Loudon Lake indicates improved water quality over three years ago.

Resident wildlife validates the sampling, Louisville Landing co-owner Ed Campbell said.

``The ducks and fish seem to like it around here,'' he said.

Campbell and his brother Darby received Clean Marina Initiative certification Tuesday for both Louisville Landing and Concord Marina, both of which they have owned for about three years.

Tennessee Valley Authority and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officials bestowed the certification and accompanying flag on the men for steps they have taken to improve the environmental condition of their marinas and surrounding waters.

Actually, Darby Campbell credits manager Mike Fenton with implementing the dozens of guidelines at Louisville Landing that must be followed to receive certification through the CMI.

Marinas hoping to be certified under the CMI must meet criteria that include disposal of boat sewage, fuel spill prevention and spill response processes and reduction of storm water runoff directly into the reservoir.

Prior to the TVA and Tennessee Valley Authority initiative, Fenton said, ``Nobody really cared, I guess you might say,'' about preventing sewage and fuel discharge into area lakes.

The Clean Marina Initiative ``puts a lot of onus on marinas to prevent that,'' he said.

While some measures, such as an oil spill control boom, were already in place at the marina, Fenton oversaw improvements such as installation of a sewage pumping station available to anyone free of charge and increased monitoring of customers for illicit discharges of sewage or fuel.

Fenton said any boats not living up to environmental standards contained in their lease with Louisville Landing must ``bring it up to code or get kicked out of the marina.''

The marina also has posted safety data and spill response guidelines, fuel handling has been improved and garbage produced at the marina is recycled whenever possible.

First on Fort Loudon

Tennessee Valley Authority Fort Loudon Watershed representative Steve Hayes said there are about 10 marinas on Fort Loudon Lake in the process of obtaining CMI certification. Louisville Landing and Concord Marina were the first two on the reservoir to receive the certification.

``TVA is partnering with marinas to help the health of the reservoirs and water quality,'' Hayes said.

While the improvements benefit the marina's immediate environment, the cumulative reductions will benefit the entire reservoir.

Reduction of fuel spills and sewage discharge are among the greatest concerns addressed by the CMI.

``It's a pretty extensive problem,'' Hayes said. ``Look at all the boats. If there is just one or two drops from each vessel, think how much ends up in the reservoir.''

There are 115 boats in slips at Louisville Landing, and 150 in dry storage. The Campbells lease 200 slips at Concord.

``We knew it was an achievable goal,'' Darby Campbell said. ``We realized it was the responsible thing to do for the future of the area.''

Environment/economics

Both Campbell brothers also have practical reasons for managing their marinas in environmentally sound ways.

Ed Campbell foresees enforceable regulations coming down the pike for marina fuel and sewage handling. The CMI program is strictly voluntary.

``We wanted to make sure it's clean before someone tells us to keep it clean,'' he said.

Darby Campbell, while professing an appreciation for East Tennessee lakes that developed in childhood, looks at the issue from a business standpoint.

``If the lakes go downhill, obviously it could impact all marinas.''