MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WZTV) — State environmental leaders are asking Tennessee residents to weigh in on the health of local waterways, including the Stones River in Rutherford County, during a public meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
The meeting is part of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s review of its draft 2026 list of “impaired and threatened waters.” The list identifies rivers and streams that do not meet state water quality standards for safe recreation, fishing, and aquatic life.
Why the Stones River is under review
In Rutherford County, attention is focused on the Stones River, particularly the East Fork, which serves as a major source of drinking water for the area.
The City of Murfreesboro is suing landfill operators Republic Services and BFI in federal court, alleging water and air pollution connected to the Middle Point Landfill. The lawsuit claims leachate — a liquid formed when water passes through landfill waste — has leaked into the East Fork Stones River…