I am a resident of Tennessee, deeply concerned about the rapid loss of our precious wetlands. Wetlands are vital to our ecosystem, providing habitat for diverse wildlife, acting as natural water filters and serving as buffers against flooding. Despite their importance, they are disappearing at an alarming rate due to urban development and climate change.

In Tennessee alone, we've lost approximately 59% of our original wetland acreage since the 1780s (source: U.S Fish & Wildlife Service). This is not just an environmental issue; it's a crisis that affects us all - from farmers who rely on wetlands for irrigation to families who enjoy outdoor activities in these beautiful spaces.

We urge the state government to implement stronger protection measures for our remaining wetlands and invest in restoration projects. We need your help to save these irreplaceable parts of our natural heritage. Please sign this petition today and join us in standing up for Tennessee's wetlands! According to estimates from state regulators, Rep Kevin Vaughn is proposing a bill that could remove the legal protection for more than 430,000 acres of wetlands in Tennessee," said George Nolan, Director of Southern Environmental Law Center's Tennessee office.

So, what is the federal definition of a wetland? Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court redefined it.

Essentially, it's only a protected wetland if it continuously connects at the surface to a permanent body of water, like a river. That means, ironically, the wetland area at Shelby Bottoms wouldn't be considered protected under the proposed bill, because it's not a continuous flow from the nearby Cumberland River.

Conservation groups and state agencies testified about all the reasons this bill could spell environmental disaster for Tennessee.

"We at TDEC fear, that the proposal proposed could result in greater end costs and burdens for Tennessee taxpayers," said Greg Young, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner.

Their reasons included reducing water quality, killing off native species and most of all, making flood prone areas that much worse.

"There is the possibility of increasing flooding," testified Alex Pellom, the Chief of Staff for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

"One acre of wetland can hold a million gallons of water, that’s a lot of water," said Chris Vanags, who studies and teaches hydrology at Vanderbilt University.