TN.gov Newsroom

NASHVILLE, TENN. (July 27, 2007) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District, has announced plans to continue to hold the level of Lake Cumberland at elevation 680 unless project conditions worsen.

The date and locations have been set for duck blind drawings in West Tennessee on TWRA’s Wildlife Management Areas. Drawings on all of the areas will be Saturday August 4, 2007. Registration will be 7:00- 10:00 a.m. with the drawings to begin at 10:00 a.m.

Waterfowl hunters will gather Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007 to draw for waterfowl blind positions on Cheatham, Haynes, Old Hickory, and AEDC (Woods) wildlife management areas in Middle Tennessee.

The cooling days of fall are still some time off, but if you plan on hunting this year, now is the time to prepare, reminds the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).

In lieu of its annual fund-raising banquet, the Music City Chapter of Quail Unlimited will host its 6th Annual Sporting Clays Shoot.  For more information click here.

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s (TWF) Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) held its State Trap Championship over the past two weekends at Nashville’s Tennessee Clay Target Complex. State Champion teams were crowned in four divisions, as the “Super Bowl” of Tennessee youth trapshooting completed its sixth year.

There is growing evidence that Carbon Monoxide-related illnesses, injuries, and fatalities on the water may be far greater than reported.  The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is asking recreational boaters to take special care during the busy July 4^th holiday weekend, and any time they are on the water.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly toxic gas produced by boat engines, generators, and stoves.  Some boaters are aware that CO can accumulate inside engine compartments, and few understand that the gas can pool in deadly concentrations outside the boat as well – around engine and generate exhaust outlets, under and around swim platforms, and even in an open cabin when conditions are right.  Many boating safety professionals believe that Carbon Monoxide-related injuries and fatalities may go under-reported because they are attributed to other causes such as seasickness or intoxication.  There is growing concern that as many as 15% of the deaths attributed to drowning, in fact, occurred when a swimmer was already unconscious from exposure to Carbon Monoxide.
Boaters can greatly reduce the risk to themselves and their passengers by following a few simple suggestions.  Know where exhaust outlets for the engines and generator are on the boat, and keep everyone clear.  Understand how and where CO can accumulate – for example, when slow speeds and a following wind cerate a backdraft that draws CO into the cabin.  Never allow high-risk behaviors like leak surfing.  Do not sit or hang on, under, or around back deck or swim platforms when the engine or generator is running.  Treat symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, and nausea, as possible CO poisonings until another cause is pinpointed.

Generally speaking, the Fourth of July Holiday sees more boating activity than any other time of the year.  This will be the second year that the level of blood alcohol content for an intoxicated boat operator has been reduced from .10 percent to .08 percent.  Detection and apprehension of boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a top priority for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). 

With ongoing dry conditions and a rainfall deficit affecting Tennessee, officials with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) want to remind producers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that opportunities for managed haying and grazing exist. With a modification to their conservation plan, certain CRP stands established to permanent grasses (cool-season and native warm season grasses), are eligible to be cut for hay or grazed. Most eligible areas for managed haying and grazing are land that was enrolled in a general signup.

With the 4^th of July holiday weekend fast approaching, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) would like to remind boaters to be wary of “boater fatigue” while on the water.  “Boater fatigue” is a phenomenon in which a combination of sun, wind, noise, vibration and boat motion can triple the effects of alcohol on boaters.