NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 9, 2021) - Lt. Col. Joseph Sahl, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District commander, met with Project Planning Branch Chief Craig Carrington, Plan Formulation Section Chief Thomas Herbert, and Planning Project Manager Chris Pickering to sign the K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Plant Streambank Stabilization Project Partnership Agreement at the district's headquarters in the Estes Kefauver Federal Building.
The signing of the Project Partnership Agreement finalizes the project agreement between USACE and the Metropolitan Government of Nashville for the K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Plant Streambank Stabilization Project.
The water treatment plant is located on the bank of the Cumberland River, directly adjacent to a reach of 1,600 linear foot streambank between river miles 206 and 207. The streambank requires stabilization to prevent further erosion and potential damage to treatment plant buildings and water intake lines.
If not repaired in a timely manner, the streambank erosion will result in a significant financial and logistical burden on Metro Water Services and put the public health at risk.
“This project will contribute to the flood resiliency and protection efforts of the City of Nashville that began after the May 2010 flood event that flooded and shut down the treatment plant, resulting in significant portions of the city losing a source of clean water for several days,” said Pickering.
Prior to today’s PPA signing, the USACE team completed the feasibility study for the project and determined a recommended plan for design. The Metropolitan Nashville City Council reviewed and approved the Project Partnership Agreement before Mayor Cooper signed the agreement in November.
Several different resolutions were considered before the Corps concluded relocation of the plant would be unfeasible due to the extreme cost and time it would consume. Restoration of the adjacent shoreline by applying riprap for a full bank buildout is the safest and most cost-effective resolution.
“Riprap will be placed to the top of bank, which ranges in elevation. The toe of the riprap protection will be founded on the existing river bench, depending on the variable topography of the bank,” said Pickering.
The primary purpose of the study is to develop a viable treatment solution for the protection of the streambank adjacent to public utilities that serve the Nashville-Davidson county metro area.
“The K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Plant provides water for approximately half of the city's 660,388 resident service population in the Nashville-Davidson County Metro area. Preservation of the plant ensures community access to this essential resource,” said Herbert.
Restoration of the shoreline will preserve all structures located on that area of the river and keep the water clear and safe for travel. This erosion places the water treatment plant and the public it serves at significant risk.
Project construction is expected to begin in 2022 and be completed in 2023.
(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.)