TEC staff provided comments to the Tennessee Department of conservation and the White County community regarding the Upper
Cumberland Regional Airport’s proposed justification for the destruction of 10.08 acres of high quality wetlands. As TEC Executive Director John McFadden stated, “TEC is not opposed to the airport expansion, however we are opposed to non-sustainable development that creates long-term environmental problems, especially when a clear alternative exists. As such we support conserving natural landscapes, such as the wetlands this project would destroy. These natural features protect downstream waters by preventing flooding, increasing groundwater infiltration, increasing wildlife habitat and by filtering pollutants.”
Wetlands, water features and quality green space have economic value. Any economic valuation that does not does not take this into account is inadequate. For example, one study found land adjacent to protected floodplains increased in value on average of $10,400 per lot. This means increased tax revenues for local communities as well as a higher quality of life for residents. In addition, the Center for Watershed Protection suggested developers could charge a per lot premium of up to $10,000 due to the “waterfront” effect for homes next to well-designed storm water ponds and wetlands.
TEC concluded after a review of pertinent documents that the economic and social justification for the proposed airport expansion was inadequate. Among other things, the consultant failed to consider economic values for ecological services provided by the wetlands. And the consultant failed to consider the negative forward linkage environmental degradation that will occur as a result of the loss of those ecological services. For more information, contact John McFadden at tec@tectn.org.