The Watershed Association of the Tellico Reservoir
The Watershed Association of the Tellico Reservoir (WATeR) supports policies and projects that protect and improve the environment in and around Tellico Reservoir.
Trails: We maintain 31 miles of the East Lakeshore Trail
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Reservoir: We sample the lake periodically for chemical and bacterial contaminates and for phytoplankton effects on clarity.
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Watershed: We perform studies of streams and seek grants to remediate problems identified.
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Industrial outfalls: We monitor the outfalls for compliance with permits.
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Education: We inform the public on the state of the lake, current and future threats.
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Government Agencies we work with:
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The association is non-profit and non-partisan. The focus is on issues, policies, and practices that promote clean air, water, and natural habitat so that humans can live, work, and play in harmony with native plants and animals as well as with each other. The association strives to work cooperatively with governmental agencies and private organizations with similar goals and responsibilities for environmental protection and appropriate quality economic growth. Public education and demonstration projects are emphasized to make people aware of environmentally friendly practices that affect the watershed. WATeR strives to involve all stakeholders and to represent everyone interested in preserving and enhancing the environmental quality of the Tellico Reservoir Watershed.
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TRDA: Tellico Reservoir Development Agency
USACE: US Army Corp of Engineers m a paragraph.
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TWRA: Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency
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TDEC: Tennessee Department of Envronment and Conservation
TVA: Tennessee Valley Authority
NRCS: Natural Resource Conservation Service
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What We Do
Typical activities include:
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Water quality improvement
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Watershed cleanup
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Building & maintaining hiking and nature trails
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Pollution prevention
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Environmental education
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Shoreline protection
How do we do this?
We work cooperatively with State, Federal, and Local government agencies and other organizations with similar interests and responsibilities including:
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TVA
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TDEC
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USDA
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TWRA
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TRDA
Current Leaders - Board of Directors
WATeR Board of Directors
DAVID BARNES has a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee, and over 40+ years leadership experience in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) industry. He is Chair of the Trails Committee. David and his wife reside in WindRiver.
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JAN BERRY retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory where she managed the Tokamak Cooling
Water System and other projects addressing energy efficiency and waste management. She earned her
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering. She is an active volunteer in Citizens’ Climate
Lobby, whose mission is to “build the political will to act on climate change”, Braver Angels, whose
mission is to “bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic
republic”, and the American Nuclear Society (ANS), whose mission is to “embrace the nuclear sciences
and technologies for their vital contributions to improving people’s lives and preserving the planet”. Jan
was appointed to the WATeR Board of Directors in 2022. She lives in Foothills Pointe.
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JON NEAL earned a BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Lafayette College and Lehigh University. He
has served as a senior software architect for Microsoft and currently serves as the Chief Revenue Officer for a
FinTech in Healthcare. Jon joined the WATeR Board of Directors in 2024. He and his wife Lisa live in WindRiver.
ELLEN PAPERA graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine and Fordham University School
of Law in NYC. She was employed as a corporate attorney for Kieffer & Hahn and Cole & Deitz in NYC,
before moving to an in-house counsel and trademark coordinator position at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,
Inc. Ellen did extensive volunteer work after choosing to stay home with her children. Ellen has run her
own travel consulting business since 2013. Ellen was appointed to the WATeR Board of Directors in
2022 and serves as Vice President. She lives in WindRiver.
JEFF RAUCH earned a BS in Business Administration, from Indiana University, and retired from a
successful sales career in the Food industry. He serves on the board of T-Bart and is a member of the
Tellico Village Fishing Club. Jeff was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2022 and he serves as
Membership Director. Jeff is a resident of Tellico Village.
DAVE FLANAGAN holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and an
M.B.A. from The University of Michigan. He retired after a career in International Management in the
Automotive industry. David was elected to the Board in 2021 and is President. David is a resident of
Tellico Village.
davidflanagan@tellicowater.org
SALLY LEONHARD received her M.D. from the University of Miami in 1974, and a J.D. from the
University of Maryland in 1993. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. For most of her career, Sally
was the CEO of a Community Health Center in Southern Maryland. Sally has completed certification as a
Tennessee Naturalist and was active in the Master Gardener program in Maryland before moving to
Tennessee. Sally is a member of the Garden Club. Sally serves on the Finance Committee of the Church
of the Resurrection. Sally was appointed to the WATeR Board in 2022 and she serves as Secretary. She
is a resident of Tellico Village.
sallyleonhard@tellicowater.org
MOLLIE LENOIR MAY studied at University of Georgia and Mercer University where she
earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She has retired from her pharmacy practice, and presently lives on
her family farm in Fork Creek. She. also serves on the board of Keep Monroe County Beautiful. She was
appointed to the WATeR board in 2022 and serves as Treasurer and as the trails committee liaison.
Committees
Lakeshore Cleanup
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Ned Miller,Jeff Rauch, Bob Kutschera, Tom Ringenbach, Bill Waldrop and Bill Webster.
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Tom Ringenbach is the chairperson.
Phone: 865-458-0915
Email: cleanup@tellicowater.org
Water Quality
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Bill Atkinson, Chris Bridges, Carl Hagen, Jack Hall, Lloyd Hensley, Ingrid Jackoway, Garry Lucas, Theresa McMahan, Randy Morse, Tom Paul, John Reed, Dick Sawinski, John Shryock, Christine Stevens, Bill Waldrop, Dave Warfel, Jim Wisneski
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Bill Waldrop is the chairperson.
Phone: 865-458-0506
Email: quality@tellicowater.org
WATeR Address
WATeR
PO Box 992
Lenoir City, TN 37771
