Knox County Stormwater Management

09/29/2026

🌧️ Stormwater Control Measures: A Homeowner’s Quick Tips! 🏡

Did you know that stormwater control measures (SCMs) help manage stormwater runoff, flooding, and pollutants before they reach our local waterways?

If you have an SCM on your property, maintenance is your responsibility!

Regular maintenance helps protect your property, reduce flooding, and improve the health of our streams.

09/28/2026

🔎🦐🦎 What can the tiny creatures living in a stream tell us about water quality?🪳🪱
Knox County Stormwater recently visited South Doyle Middle School for a hands-on lesson about benthic macroinvertebrates! Students learned how these small organisms can help us understand the health of a stream—and even got to dip net and see what they could find.

Among the critters we found were crayfish, caddisfly larvae, gilled snails, riffle beetles, dragonfly and damselfly larvae, and a longnose dace! 🦞🐌🪲

Hands-on experiences like these help students connect what they learn in the classroom to the streams and waterways in their own communities—and build the next generation of stream stewards. 🌿💧

A big thank you to AmeriCorps member Archie with the Water Quality Forum for helping us support these hands-on learning experiences!

Are you an educator interested in having Knox County Stormwater visit your classroom? Email [email protected] to learn more!

09/25/2026

🍂 Happy Fall from Knox County Stormwater! 🍁

When leaves pile up in the street or around storm drains, they can clog drainage systems and contribute to localized flooding.

🚫 Please don’t rake or blow leaves into the street, storm drains, ditches, or streams.
Instead, keep leaves on your property and use them for mulch or compost, or dispose of them properly.

09/24/2026

Check Out Knox County Stormwater Resources!
Looking to learn more about our local waterways and what you can do to help protect them? Knox County Stormwater educational materials are now available at libraries throughout Knox County! 🌿💧
Stop by your local library and grab some resources to explore, including:
📖 Bookmarks
🎨 Coloring sheets
🌊 Adopt-a-Stream information
💧 Drainage guidance
🌱 Vegetated buffer information
🗺️ Watershed-specific resources
…and more!

09/17/2026

Taking care of your septic system can increase its longevity and help keep our waters clean!

If you happen to live in the Turkey Creek Watershed (in and around Farragut), we still have grant funds to repair failing septic systems. Please reach out to us at 865-215-5800 for more information!

Hey Tennessee! It's SepticSmart Week. This week, we will share some tips to help you properly maintain your septic systems and protect water quality along the way. Be Septic Smart!

09/17/2026

From Iron to Orange: The Chemistry of Our Creeks 🧡
Why do some streams have orange-tinted sediment or deposits? Iron can change form as conditions in the water and sediment change, creating the orange colors we sometimes see in creeks.
Learn more about iron redox below and the chemistry happening beneath the surface!

09/15/2026

09/14/2026

Our Stormwater team recently completed a series of E. coli sampling runs in the Turkey Creek and Bullrun Creek watersheds. E. coli is a bacteria used as an indicator of potential f***l contamination, helping us better understand the health and safety of our streams.
During each sampling run, we collect water samples from designated locations and send them for analysis. We use the results to identify areas with elevated E. coli levels, look for potential sources of contamination, and track changes in water quality over time.
The data helps guide our monitoring efforts, identify areas that may need further investigation, and support efforts to protect and improve our local waterways.
Every sample helps us better understand what’s happening in our streams. 🌿💦

09/04/2026

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions regarding drainage in Knox County.

You can read more about drainage responsibility in the county here:https://knoxcounty.org/stormwater/pdfs/drainagewayBrochure.pdf

09/03/2026

Please join us in welcoming our new AmeriCorps member Amelia! We are so excited to have her and look forward to her year of service ahead!🪏🧤🥾💧