News

Monday, April 29, 2019

Meet Mark Jordan, Our New Director of Development

Coming from a 30 year career in banking (mostly in Mississippi), Mark is a mid-life career changer. In 2014 he began to feel a strong desire to change his career and he knew the non-profit sector is where he wanted to be. In 2016 he accepted his first job in the non-profit world as the Development Director with the Memphis Child Advocacy Center. Then on Mar. 1, 2019, Mark joined the team at the Wolf River Conservancy as the Director of Development, assuming the role... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, April 29, 2019

Monday, April 29, 2019

Thank You to Our April Volunteers!

   Many thanks to the big group of volunteers from FedEx who completed a multi-pronged service project on Wed., April 24th, at the Epping Way Greenway.  The FedEx Cares project is part of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Five Star Urban Waters Restoration Grant awarded to the Wolf River Conservancy for which FedEx provides most of the funding.  Clean Memphis partnered with the Conservancy to lead the volunteers in a variety of activities, which... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, April 29, 2019

Monday, April 29, 2019

Volunteers Needed for Aquifer Research

The scientists at the Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research at University of Memphis (CAESER) will be studying the Wolf River to measure the interaction between surface water and groundwater as part of the $5 million MLGW study of the aquifer. They will need volunteers to help deploy seepage meters in the River for a few weeks of June. Access to or ownership of a kayak would be very helpful! Please fill out  this quick form  and CAESER will... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, April 29, 2019

Monday, April 29, 2019

A Great Day for Epping Way Greenway!

        On Sat., April 27th, our celebration of the new Epping Way section of the Wolf River Greenway kicked off early with the first ever Epping Way 5K Run, followed by a grand opening and ribboncutting ceremony featuring the mayors of Memphis and Shelby County. Participants in the 5K - including students from Memphis Rise Academy - made two laps down part of the Greenway and along N. Highland and Stage James roads before crossing the finish... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, April 29, 2019

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Natural Highlights: Eastern Bluebird

                      Thanks to a proliferation of nest boxes and bluebird trails, the Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds have all made quite a comeback since the first half of the 20th century.  Both the rapid conversion of habitat and competition with introduced House Sparrows and European Starlings for nest cavities caused a dramatic decline in bluebird populations.  Fortunately, bluebirds take readily to constructed... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Thursday, April 18, 2019

Friday, March 29, 2019

Natural Highlights: Frankenstein Trees

The Bradford Pear Trees are in bloom, and every year there are more of them in the landscape.  This is not good news.  Fortunately, people everywhere are realizing that this tree is a problem - just do a quick Google search and see the numerous articles with titles similar to this one in  Southern Living  magazine: "Why Bradford Pears are the Worst Tree Ever." The Bradford Pear is a cultivar of the Pear ( Pyrus calleryana ) native to Asia... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Friday, March 29, 2019

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Clark Preserve Boardwalk Is Closed

Please be advised that the William B. Clark Preserve boardwalk is currently closed due to safety concerns.  It was damaged by recent flooding and will have to be repaired.  For more information, please contact West Tennessee Stewardship Ecologist Allan Trently, allan.trently@tn.gov. Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Thursday, March 28, 2019

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Nutbush Landfill Defeated

Blaylock and Brown withdrew their application for a new landfill in the Nutbush area after a meeting of the Land Use Control Board on Mar. 14th. The wetlands on the property have, for the time being, evaded destruction thanks to the committed efforts of residents in Nutbush, Berclair and surrounding neighborhoods, along with those the Wolf River Conservancy, the Sierra Club, and Protect Our Aquifer.  The opponents of the landfill understood that... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Thursday, March 28, 2019

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Congratulations and Thanks to Walt Houston on his Fundraising Paddle

We had a great turnout at Memphis Made to celebrate World Water Day and welcome Walt Houston home from his fundraising paddle down the length of the Wolf River, which raised over $5000 for the Conservancy.  On Mar. 7th, Walt Houston set out on an expedition to paddle the Wolf River, raising awareness about local conservation and invasive species.  He began his 100-mile journey at Baker's Pond, the source of the Wolf River.  His... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Thursday, March 28, 2019

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Wolf River Harbor Cleanup

      212 volunteers came out on the morning of Mar. 23rd to participate in the Wolf River Harbor Cleanup, a joint effort of the Wolf River Conservancy and Living Lands and Waters.   Many people commented on the startling amount of trash, especially plastic trash, floating on the surface of the water or left on the bank by receding water.  Volunteers were able to pick up trash along the banks of Wolf River Harbor as well as directly from the... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Thursday, March 28, 2019

Friday, March 1, 2019

February 2019 ENewsletter

February 2019 ENEWSLETTER About Us Events & Activities Conservation Education Greenway Get Involved ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Friday, March 1, 2019
Featured Enews

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Join Us in Opposing the Nutbush Landfill

  The Land Use Control Board will meet at City Hall at 10am on Thurs., Mar. 14th, to discuss a proposed landfill in the 100-year floodplain of the Wolf River.  Please consider joining us at the meeting; the Wolf River Conservancy is opposed to constructing the landfill at the proposed location, and a show of public support is important! In the past year, there has been a heavy push for construction and demolition (C&D) landfills within the city limits of... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Thursday, February 28, 2019
Featured

Monday, February 25, 2019

Community Comes Together for Annual Tree Planting

  352 volunteers of all ages came out for a great morning of tree planting at Shelby Farms Park on Feb.16th!  The weather was chilly at first, but not miserable, and, together, we planted about 4,000 trees - Nuttall Oaks, Shumard Oaks, Swamp Chestnut Oaks, Northern Red Oaks, Bald Cypress, Black Gum, Water Tupelo, Yellow Poplar, Loblolly PIne, Buttonbush, and Eastern Redbud - a nice mix of species which will benefit our community in many ways for many years. A big thank you to... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, February 25, 2019

Monday, February 25, 2019

Land Trust Accreditation: Why It Matters

In August 2015, the Wolf River Conservancy became a nationally accredited land trust through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) since 2008.  Today, approximately 400 land trusts – just 25% of the land trusts in our country - have achieved this coveted distinction, and the we are proud to be included in that number.  Becoming a nationally accredited land trust was a significant milestone for the Wolf River... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, February 25, 2019
Featured

Monday, February 25, 2019

Meet WRC Intern Will Thinnes!

Hi! My name is Will Thinnes, a current intern at the Wolf River Conservancy. Growing up in Memphis, I attended White Station High School and Lausanne Collegiate School, where I graduated in 2014. I first learned about the Wolf River Conservancy in high school after spending two weeks at the Summer Career Exploration Program, which allowed high school students to experience various environmental careers firsthand through field trips around the Memphis area. After high school, I attended... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, February 25, 2019

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Natural Highlights: Shumard Oak

Shumard Oaks ( Quercus shumard ii ) were among the tree species planted during our Annual Tree Planting event on Feb.16th.  Oaks and hickories are the dominant tree species in the upland forests of the Midsouth and there are numerous species of both groups which can be difficult to tell apart.  In general, oaks can be grouped into "red oaks" which have sharply pointed lobes on their leaves and "white oaks" which have rounded lobes.  The... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Sunday, February 24, 2019
Natural Highlights

Friday, February 1, 2019

January 2019 Enewsletter

January 2019 ENEWSLETTER About Us Events & Activities Conservation Education Greenway Get Involved ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Friday, February 1, 2019
Enews

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Wolf River 5K Draws 800 Runners

Over 800 runners participated in the second annual Wolf River 5K by Start2Finish Event Management on Saturday, January 19th. The Wolf River Conservancy was the beneficiary of the 5K, which was part of the Run the 901 Race Series, a training program for the Germantown Half Marathon. The Wolf River 5K was held on the Wolf River Greenway trail, which upon completion, will extend from the confluence of the Wolf River and Mississippi River at Mud Island to Germantown. Thank you to... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Meet Our Intern, Mary Katherine DeWane

Our recent intern, Mary Katherine DeWane, shares her experience with the Conservancy below: My name is Mary Katherine DeWane. I am a lifelong Memphian and a graduate of White Station High School. Currently, I am in my junior year at Harvard College, where I major in Biology. I have always loved nature and the environment, and my desire to work in a conservation-related career led me to join the Wolf River Conservancy as an intern for my winter break. During my time here, I have done many... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Great Turnout for Our Martin Luther King Day Service Project!

About 50 volunteers of all ages came out to the Epping Way segment of the Wolf River Greenway to participate in the Conservancy's Martin Luther King Day service project on Jan. 21st.  One group picked up trash deposited by illegal dumping, while another walked down the trail to plant approximately 150 trees including buttonbush, tupelo, and swamp chestnut oak.  Yet another group yanked up invasive privet from an area where the soil was soggy from the recent rain, while a... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Natural Highlights: Calling Chorus Frogs

Even on cold January days, one is likely to hear the calls of male Upland Chorus Frogs ( Pseudacris feriarum ) in shallow wetland areas, especially when the sun is shining and temperatures reach the 30's and 40's.  The call is unmistakable and has been compared to running a finger along the teeth of a plastic comb. Chorus Frogs are usually found near grassy ditches, flooded fields and temporary wetlands, both in urban areas and out in the country.  The males call to... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Thursday, January 3, 2019

December 2018 Enewsletter

December 2018 ENEWSLETTER About Us Events & Activities Conservation Education Greenway Get Involved ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Thursday, January 3, 2019

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Cornerstone Property Expands Protection for Wetlands

The Cornerstone Property , located off Bateman Road in Fayette County, is the final scenic stretch of the Ghost River section of the Wolf River before the take-out at the Bateman Bridge. This property represents the cornerstone of the Wolf River Conservancy mission – conservation, education and recreation – and includes the following highlights: The property includes both sides of the Wolf River channel Contains a rare plant community  Beautiful wetlands... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, December 18, 2018
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Sunday, December 16, 2018

Thank you, Volunteers!

    THANK YOU to Boy Scout Peter Moore, longtime volunteer Marc Sherman, and new Conservancy board member John Hartney of FedEx for their hard work on Saturday, Dec. 15th, during a service project at the Lucius Burch trailhead at Shelby Farms Park.  Though the rain held off while we worked, it was still pretty soggy out.  The mild temperatures made for good privet clearing and tree planting weather nonetheless, and Peter was able to earn some of... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Sunday, December 16, 2018

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Natural Highlights: It's Tree Planting Season!

Planting a tree on a mild winter day can be a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays! A tree is a gift to the local environment which gives back in many different ways, especially if the tree you plant is native to the Midsouth. Late fall, winter, and early spring are the best times to plant trees and shrubs in the Midsouth.  With the exception of the occasional hard freeze when soil temperatures reach 20 degrees or below, woody plants will generally thrive, putting... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Sunday, December 16, 2018

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Nice Day for a Stroll

12 people and a pooch joined Jim Gafford for a relaxing stroll around the arboretum on the Wolf River Greenway off Humphreys Blvd. on Sunday, Dec. 16th.  The Wolf River Greenway Arboretum features 30 species of trees with labels, providing a great educational resource.  For more information on the Greenway Arboretum, including a list and a map of the trees, use this link. Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Sunday, December 16, 2018

Monday, December 10, 2018

TN H2O: The New Report on Tennessee's Water Resources

The new TN H2O Report provides a comprehensive look at the water resources of Tennessee, examining topics such as groundwater, surface water, and water infrastructure, and discussing current and future challenges.  The report is an important starting point in planning for the sustainable use and care of Tennessee's diverse and abundant water resources. READ THE REPORT AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT THIS LINK.  The official press release from Tenn. Dept. of Environment and... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, December 10, 2018
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Friday, December 7, 2018

November 2018 ENewsletter

November 2018 ENEWSLETTER About Us Events & Activities Conservation Education Greenway Get Involved ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Friday, December 7, 2018

Friday, December 7, 2018

October 2018 ENewsletter

October 2018 ENEWSLETTER About Us Events & Activities Conservation Education Greenway Get Involved ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Friday, December 7, 2018

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Thanks to Our Project WET Sponsors

                                        Participants at Project WET Workshops learn about local water resources, try out classroom activities, and take home a copy of the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide which teachers find very useful.  Our latest workshop was held on Nov. 21st at Memphis Botanic Garden.  Thank you to Buckman and the Crawford Howard Private Foundation for... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Greenway Soiree - A Night to Remember

Thank you to all of our sponsors, donors, guests and volunteers who helped make this year's Greenway Soirée our best yet! With live music from the Earnestine & Hazel's Band, great items to bid in our silent and live auction, and a delicious dinner from Paradox Catering & Consulting, we are glad we could  Celebrate the Wolf  in style.            A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, International Paper, Platinum... Read More
Posted by Kelsey Hamilton at Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

A Shout Out to November Service Project Volunteers!

    On Nov. 16th, Wolf River Conservancy and about 30 volunteers from International Paper and ALSAC planted over 150 trees. These trees were potted earlier this year at our Annual Tree Planting event in March.  Five native tree species were selected to beautify and reforest wetland areas on Wolf River Conservancy’s Epping Way property in Raleigh.  Despite the very muddy conditions from the melting snow, the volunteers skillfully and efficiently planted the... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

We Oppose the Nutbush Landfill

The Land Use Control Board will meet at the Memphis City Council Chambers at 10am on Dec.13th to discuss a proposed landfill in the 100-year floodplain of the Wolf River.  Please consider joining us at the meeting; the Wolf River Conservancy is opposed to constructing the landfill at the proposed location! In the past year, there has been a heavy push for construction and demolition (C&D) landfills in Memphis.  This is likely a sign of a healthy economy,... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Natural Highlights: Bouquet Mudplantain

                         The Bouquet Mudplantain ( Heteranthera multiflora ) is a rare wetland plant, quite beautiful especially when flowering, and picky about where it lives.  It was recently discovered on the Cornerstone property, the Conservancy's latest land conservation project.  This patch of Bouquet Mudplantain is now one of only three known locations for this species in the state of Tennessee,... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Natural Highlights

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

80 Bags of Trash Removed from Houston Levee Access!

THANKS to the forty volunteers who gathered at the Houston Levee Rd. access to the Wolf River and collected more than 80 bags of trash as part of Volunteer Odyssey’s 2018 Service Challenge!  Our good friends from Mister Tree Service were on site with a bobcat to haul off all the trash and debris collected.  To all of you, thanks again for making our corner of the world a better place! Photos can be found here: ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

International Paper Employees Celebrate Commitment to Wolf River Greenway Trail

International Paper employees and their families enjoyed a great morning at the Wolf River Greenway's Confluence Park in Harbor Town on Saturday, September 29th,in commemoration of IP's gift toward the completion of the Wolf River Greenway trail project. In an opening ceremony, the Wolf River Conservancy recognized International Paper for its commitment to the project and to our overall mission to protect and enhance the Wolf River and its watershed.  Congressman... Read More
Posted by Kelsey Hamilton at Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Enews Special Events Greenway Featured

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Kennedy Park Greenway Grand Opening Celebrated with Service

The Wolf River Greenway at Kennedy Park officially opened on the morning of Wed., Oct. 3rd, with a Greenway Grand Opening ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a service project. Over 150 people attended the ceremony.  Doug McGowen with the City of Memphis and Conservancy Executive Director Keith Cole made the opening remarks, and  Lauren Taylor with Hyde Family Foundations and Rhonda Logan with the Raleigh Community Development Council participated in the ribbon... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Welcome Back, Grace Sammarco!

Grace Sammarco interned with the Wolf River Conservancy during the summer of 2017.  She has recently returned as a new Development Intern, helping organize the Greenway Soirée in addition to other tasks.  Grace is now a student at Rhodes College where she is especially interested in international business and environmental science.  In 2017, we asked Grace to write a few paragraphs about herself for our newsletter.  You can read her article below: ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Monday, October 29, 2018

Natural Highlights: Eastern Screech Owl

  Eastern Screech Owls, gray and rufous color morphs The presence of Eastern Screech Owls ( Megascops asio ) often goes undetected because this bird is small and nocturnal, but they are common in the Midsouth and found both in and out of the city where there is suitable habitat. Screech Owls like wooded areas and need cavities for nesting, but aren't very picky about them as long as someone else has created the cavity. They look for holes created by... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, October 29, 2018

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

September 2018 Enewsletter

September 2018 ENEWSLETTER About Us Events & Activities Conservation Education Greenway Get Involved ... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Enews

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Sustain the Wolf: Give Today & Double Your Impact

All donations received between now and December 31st, will be doubled dollar for dollar up to $100,000, thanks to the generous support from Scott and Kay Dawson. Please consider participating in the “Sustaining the Wolf” challenge matching gift campaign.  Thank you for helping preserve the Wonder of the Wolf. Give Today and Double Your Impact If you have any questions on how to maximize your contribution, please contact Kelsey Hamilton . Read More
Posted by Kelsey Hamilton at Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Monday, September 24, 2018

The Land Trust for Tennessee Needs Your Feedback

What Places in Tennessee Matter to You? Our partner, The Land Trust for Tennessee, conserves farms, parks, forests, historic sites and natural, open space across the state.  You can help this nonprofit organization further their work by answering just a few simple questions! https://landtrusttn.org/feedback/    Read More
Posted by Matt Winemiller at Monday, September 24, 2018
Conservation Enews

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Volunteers Turn Out for September Service Project

THANK YOU to the many volunteers who turned out for our 4th Saturday Service Project on Sept. 22nd at Kennedy Park!!! A group of employees from AT&T and a group of Christian Brothers University students joined numerous individuals and families in collecting a huge amount of trash, clearing some invasive privet, and assembling five bat boxes for future installation along the Wolf River.  Several people also got a glimpse of the new segment of the Wolf River... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Sunday, September 23, 2018

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Natural Highlights: Goldenrod

      Goldenrod blooms in September and October, lighting up fields, roadsides, and woodland edges with intense yellow flower clusters which support butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.  There are around 100 species of goldenrod ( Solidago sp.) around the world, members of the diverse aster family. Here in the Midsouth, Solidago altissima , S. gigantea , and S. nemoralis are all common.  The reputation of goldenrods as... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Sunday, September 23, 2018

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Celebrating Conservancy Volunteers on Aug. 21st

As a show of appreciation to our River Guides, Greenway Ambassadors, and many valued volunteers, the Conservancy held a Volunteer Appreciation Night on Tuesday, August 21.  Our sincere thanks goes out to Memphis Botanic Garden for hosting the event.  Learn more about Wolf River Conservancy’s many volunteer opportunities at  wolfriver.org/volunteer . Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Thanks to Our August Volunteers!

 Thank you to all of our volunteers during the month of August!   Fourth Saturday Service Project, Aug. 25th, Wolf River Greenway at Humphreys Blvd.    Buckman volunteers with Springdale Elementary students and staff, Aug. 24th Lausanne Collegiate School Interns, Aug. 21-24th     Urban Wolf River clean up, Aug. 24th:          Lucius Burch trailhead, privet removal and trash pickup, Aug.... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Monday, August 27, 2018

Natural Highlights: Plain-bellied Watersnake

The Plain-bellied Water Snake ( Nerodia erythrogaster ) is the most ubiquitous water snake in our area, occurring along the Wolf River and also in streams, lakes, and ponds.  Wherever there is water, there is often a Plain-bellied Water Snake nearby.  This species is also called a yellow-bellied, red-bellied or copper-bellied water snake, or simply a yellowbelly, etc. There are six recognized subspecies and the color of the belly varies from red to yellow, but... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, August 27, 2018

Monday, July 30, 2018

Thanks to Our Epping Way Volunteers!

A huge THANK YOU to the volunteers who joined us on Saturday, July 28th, to install nest boxes for birds and two boxes for bats on the new section of the Wolf River Greenway at Epping Way!  Special thanks to bat expert Chris Grow who led the bat box installation project.  Chris had already presented a program on bats to crowd of 106 people on Monday, June 23rd, for our Summer Lecture Series at the Memphis Botanic Garden.  Special thanks also to the volunteers from... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, July 30, 2018

Monday, July 30, 2018

Family Fun on the Wolf River

A total of 80 people of all ages - 32 on July 2 and 48 on July 22 - have enjoyed our Sunday afternoon Family Fun Paddles on the urban Wolf River.  The combination of a relatively easy and centrally located river section and wonderful, helpful river guides led by Conservancy Outreach Director Jim Gafford make these paddle trips very popular!  Families paddle from the Germantown Pkwy boat access to the ramp at Walnut Grove, with stops along to way to swim and play.  On... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, July 30, 2018

Monday, July 30, 2018

Another Successful Project WET Workshop

  On July 24th, a group of 20 educators earned certificates and took home a copy of the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide 2.0 , after a day spent learning about water quality and the Wolf River, and sampling some of the activities included in the 592-page book - activities with titles such as "A Drop in a Bucket", "The Incredible Journey", and "Sum of Parts."  Thank you to our sponsors, Buckman and Crawford-Howard Private... Read More
Posted by Cathy Justis at Monday, July 30, 2018
Education