MTSU Stormwater Program Public Involvement & Events

MTSU Stormwater Program strives to provide education for streams and rivers in our community.  We also provide educational and volunteer opportunities to our campus population.  Some of our projects have included campus cleanups, stream cleanups, wetland remediation, tree plantings, invasive plant removal, elementary environmental education and outreach booths.  We would love for you to join in and be part of our clean stream experience!

Join us for our upcoming events!

Garden Extravaganza – Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 9am-Noon
Location: Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd, Murfreesboro)
This event is coordinated in partnership with the Rutherford County Extension, Master Gardeners, and MTSU Stormwater to offer garden tours and speaker programs showcasing gardening tips for citizens throughout the day.  Be sure to attend!
• Family friendly activities scheduled
• Educational Sessions & Resources
• Guest Speakers
• Garden Tours will be provided
• Door Prizes

Boat Day – June 21, 2025
Join us for the 17th annual Boat Day event! This is a free, family-friendly public event.
Time: 9am-1pm
Location: Jefferson Springs Recreation Area, Smyrna (7660 W. Jefferson Pike, Smyrna)
This event educates the community on the importance of water quality and paddling safety. Canoes and kayaks (and paddles!) are provided for no charge. Paddle on the water, see live fish and play games on the shore of the Stones River. There is no cost to participate and all ages are welcome (participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult). Walk-ups are welcome.  Local partners including Smyrna Stormwater and Outdoor Adventure Center, Murfreesboro Parks and Stormwater, MTSU Stormwater and Outdoor Recreation staff and the Stones River Watershed Association will be on helping with the event and on hand to provide education and instruction on operating the canoes and kayaks and share information about their recreation events and paddling programs. Multiple agencies will provide fun and educational hands-on activities for the community. For more information, email [email protected].

Some of our past events:

• Free Trees for Streams – March 13, 2025
  Local Stormwater Programs from the City of Murfreesboro, MTSU and Rutherford County came together for this free community event that was open to the public. A short presentation was held and participants were able to take home a free tree afterwards!
  Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025
  Time: 5:30-7:30pm
  Location: SportsCom meeting room (2310 Memorial Blvd)

• Spring Stormwater Rain Barrel Workshop – March 20, 2025
  Murfreesboro’s ONLY Stormwater Workshop of the Year – for homeowners, gardeners, and those interested in protecting our local waterways and conserving water! This event wass open to the public (City and County). The City of Murfreesboro and the Stones River Watershed sponsored half the cost of the rain barrels to reduce costs for citizen.
  REGISTER NOW TO PURCHASE AND ATTEND: https://forms.gle/Dtuq8diZZ94LhDf47. Deadline to register is Friday, March 7.
  Cost: $60 (includes barrel, meal and workshop). Limited spots/Only 20 available, Max 2 per household
  Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025
  Time: 5:30-7:30pm
  Location: Murfreesboro Water Resources Department, Operations & Maintenance Facility, 1725 South Church Street

• Murfreesboro’s Park Day Volunteer Event – April 12, 2025
  We need volunteers to help us care for our community’s public lands!
  On Saturday, April 12, 2025, Stones River National Battlefield and our partners kicked off National Park Week by bringing the residents of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County together for a morning dedicated to properly managing the lands and waterways that are a critical part of life in in our community.
  We joined thousands of volunteers across the nation in celebrating the 29th year of the American Battlefield Trust’s (ABT) Park Day by working to preserve and improve our public lands.
  Registration is required at https://outdoormurfreesboro.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=96509 by Wednesday April 9, 2025.
  We worked at Fortress Rosecrans, Old Fort Park and the Lytle Creek Greenway. Our focus was on removing invasive plants and trash from these areas.

• Murfreesboro’s Earth Day Celebration – April 26, 2025
  Come celebrate with us!
  The 2025 Earth Day Celebration was held on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Rutherford County’s Historic Downtown Square.
  Rutherford County’s Earth Day Celebration aims to educate and mobilize our community into action. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” highlighted the importance of harnessing clean energy to build a sustainable future. The event aims to educate and inspire the community to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote clean energy solutions. It also emphasizes the collective “power” of individuals and communities to make a positive impact on the planet.
  Every individual can contribute to environmental conservation and sustainability efforts. By coming together as a community, we can harness our collective power to protect and preserve our planet for future generations.For more information, you can follow our Facebook page to get the latest information leading up to Earth Day: https://www.facebook.com/RCEarthDay.