Tanyard Branch cleaner because of UGA group

ATHENS - A University of Georgia group that formed more than a year ago to revive Tanyard Branch, a heavily polluted stream on the campus, may be close to producing results. <br> <br> In fact, the members of Students and Educators for Ecological Sustainability may have created a pilot project for restoring dozens of other urban streams that have been converted into storm sewers. <br> <br> Tanyard Branch, once a small urban stream, is now covered for most of its length and funneled through pipes. But university and city officials agree the stream could be an ideal candidate for a long-term restoration project. <br> <br> The group recently met with Dean Jack Crowley, stormwater runoff researcher of the UGA College of Environmental Design, to develop a graduate class this summer to design alternative stormwater control plans. <br> <br> Years ago, the stream was formed by two smaller creeks. They joined near the intersection of Baxter and South Lumpkin streets, then flowed through the valley where Sanford Stadium now stands before emptying into the North Oconee River. <br> <br> Today, running water is visible only in short stretches downtown or in a deep channel beside the Tate Student Center parking lot. To make way for construction, engineers moved the stream bed to the side of the parking lot before directing it into a tunnel beneath the stadium.

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