[TN-Bird] Re: Gallatin Steam Plant
- From: chris.sloan@xxxxxxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 15:43:45 +0000
A couple of comments on this:
1. The Gallatin Steam Plant USED to be a good spot for shorebirds and waders
(it has hosted several first state records - most recently of Reddish Egret).
I have been checking it several times a year for at least the last 15 years,
and in my opinion based on my observations it no longer supports any meaningful
shorebird numbers. It used to be routine to find hundreds of shorebirds,
waders, terns, etc. These days, finding a lone Least Sandpiper is a pleasant
surprise. In fact, last fall I did not even find a Killdeer! I do not know
why this has been the case, but my best guess is that they have changed the way
they control the effluent into the main settling pond such that the water level
doesn't fluctuate and the sediment does not move around. The result is that
the mudflats stay bone dry, and thus are unable to support the food resources
for the shorebirds. It has become so barren for shorebirds that as of this
spring I no longer include it on my route for the Nashvi
lle spring count. There is (was?) also a marsh that is much deeper into the
property, and Joe McLaughlin and I found Willow Flycatchers, Virginia Rails,
and Least Bitterns there one summer in the mid-90's. However, from Steam Plant
Road, it's a good 1-2 mile hike to get back there now, and I have not been back
there in several years.
2. I can't speak to the "official" access policy, but for the past few years
(since they cleared out the old concrete bridge that we used to cross going in
through the hunting entrance), I have been able to get in to the main settling
pond by parking along the railroad tracks along Steam Plant Road and then
walking across the tracks and down to the levy road. I have been observed at
least once by plant personnel and was not challenged. So, it seems that it is
possible to get in to check the settling pond; however, as noted above, barring
a change in their usage of the pond, it does not appear to be a worthwhile use
of time unless you just happen to be in the area.
regards,
--
Chris Sloan
chris.sloan@xxxxxxxxxxx
Nashville, TN
From: "Allan Trently" <ajtcorax AT hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 May 2005 10:58:09 -0400
I do not recall reported the following information on TN Birds. If I did
not, sorry for the late report. I believe TVA's Gallatin Steam Plant is
off-limits to birders, though I'm not certain of this. I was working on an
Environmental Assessment for TVA at the plant during my survey.
On May 12, 2005, I visited TVA's Gallatin Steam Plant in Gallatin, TN
adjacent to the Cumberland River. The following birds (the list is
abridged, only select birds listed below) were observed:
1. Common Yellowthroat- 4
2. Yellow-breasted Chat- 3
3. Great-crested Flycatcher- 2
4. Summer Tanager- 3
5. White-eyed Vireo- 2
6. Prairie Warbler- 8
7. Least Sandpiper- 89
8. Semipalmated Plover- 22
9. Semipalmated Sandpiper- 1
10. Killdeer- 7
11. Spotted Sandpiper- 1
This is a great area for shorebirds. If birders don't have access to the
site, maybe we should approach TVA about gaining access if only limited
access.
Allan Trently
ajtcorax AT hotmail.com
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