written by Josie Hammond and Liv Adao
Oh hello, tree huggers, funny seeing you here. Today we are talking about an issue very close to home, literally!
The Nashville Crayfish, pictured here, lives exclusively in Mill Creek in Davidson and Williamson county. Even if you don’t reside here with this yellow little guy, his story is reflective of a larger global issue: humanity’s industrial quest for constant expansion coming at the direct expense of native wildlife. So we hope that regardless of where you live, you can take something from this guy’s story and our advice for how to help him!
And of course, the best advice we can give comes straight from the legend herself. Mrs. Oliver, take it away
Mary Oliver offers a quiet contemplation on the lengths we are willing to go to further our own pursuits. The world around us is holy and sacred, but in our quest to further explore the world, we are also simultaneously responsible towards its destruction. As humanity continues to advance, we continue to produce more waste and danger for the wildlife surrounding us. And the Nashville Crayfish is just one casualty.
The Nashville Crayfish (or Crawfish or Crawdad, if it suits your fancy) is a distinctive Nashville Pred yellow and black color and grows to be about 7 inches. They’re typically found by the river under limestone slabs, primarily eating algae and leaves, but also dabbling in some carnivorous tendencies with worms, insects or snails. They’re invaluable to the ecosystem around them, acting not only as food for their main predators but a signal of the water health of the creeks they live in. Seeing Crayfish numbers decreasing should not just be scary for the scientists that study them, but also for those who live nearby the creeks and drink its water. If Nashville Crayfish are dying because of pollution in the water, it will hurt human and crawdad all the same.
The biggest reason for the pollution of the Mill Creek water is increased development in the area that results in siltation (increased dirt in water) and agricultural run-off making the water undesirable to live in or drink from. Storm water runoff also picks up pollution as it flows over manmade surfaces and into rivers. Some of these things can feel insurmountable, especially on an individual level. But we at Speak for the Trees encourage you all to never forget the power you have, even, and especially, as just one individual.
The biggest thing to keep in mind to help with pollution, wherever you are, is to be aware of the development happening in your own local area. Remember that no development into wildlife comes free of cost. There will always be displaced plant and animal life, and it’s up to us, we the people, to keep our congressmen in check when it comes to industrial pursuit. No matter where you are, you can call or email local legislatures to make your voice and opinion heard. Be aware of any local programs or projects that might be fighting to protect wildlife and are always in need of volunteers or further exposure.
Also, be aware of the products you’re using! There is a high likelihood that if you’re using pesticides or chemical fertilizers or even cleaning your car in your driveway, they will end up in local bodies of water through storm drainage and contribute directly to pollution. So think about washing your car on grass instead!
Additionally, here are some concrete resources for those living in or outside the greater Nashville area:
Here are some specific organizations that we want to promote that are helping preserve Nashville’s beautiful wildlife.
Davidson County Creek Cleanups – TENNESSEE ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
Speak for the Trees 
One response to “Crawfish Boil? Nah, Crawfish Toil”
The ending of Mary Oliver’s poem was very interesting to me. She kinda switches up the metaphor of the boat into one that is more cautionary, warning us of the burning path that we inevitably form as we sail into the future. I agree, it seems like an insurmountable feat to even try to reduce the environmental impact we create, because, as you said, even the smallest things we do create an impact. However if everyone just tried to be a little more mindful of our impact every day, a change isn’t just possible, but inevitable. Thank you for another inspiring and fun post! (Also great post title I laughed at it)
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