"Building Something Better Together:" A Q&A with Stephania Motes

In this Q&A, Stephania Motes, city manager of Spring City, Tennessee, shares an early win from the town’s resilience plan — a partnership between public works and local property owners to manage stormwater.

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What challenges were residents and the Town of Spring City seeing with stormwater runoff before joining the Resilient Communities program?

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Spring City has faced flooding issues for over 30 years due to the Piney River, which flows through the northern part of our city limits. In 1958, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers re-engineered the river channel to improve water flow during high-water events. While this effort helped, extreme rainfall—whether sudden or sustained over several days—can still cause the Piney River to overflow. When this occurs, several areas across town are impacted.

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Some of the most vulnerable areas are residential, such as Murray Avenue, but commercial areas are also affected, including downtown and the Big Apple Market at the base of the mountain. The most recent major flood event occurred in 2019 and significantly impacted all these areas. A key challenge is that much of the affected land is privately owned, limiting the city’s ability to perform repairs or implement stormwater mitigation. Many property owners lack the equipment, funding, or expertise to address these issues on their own.

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How did the Resilient Communities program help the community better understand the root causes of those issues?

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The Resilient Communities program played a vital role in helping residents understand both the complexity of the flooding issues and the limitations faced by the city. It empowered the community to become part of the solution and encouraged participants to think creatively about what could be done locally—even if some aspects, such as work in the Piney River itself, remained out of our control due to permitting requirements from the Army Corps of Engineers. The program helped shift the focus to actionable improvements in surrounding areas where stormwater runoff could be addressed more immediately.

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What kinds of conversations did the town have with landowners during the planning process, and what concerns or ideas came up?

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We invited all affected property owners to attend the initial Resilient Communities meeting. Many chose to actively participate by serving on the Core Committee that guided the program. Those unable to commit to the committee stayed in regular contact to follow the project’s progress.

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The Core Committee ultimately selected the Murray Avenue area for the Catalyst Project due to its long history of flooding—particularly the severe damage suffered in February 2019. The area includes not only residences but also key community assets such as the Senior Lighthouse Center, Spring City Elementary School, Holloway Park, the Rhea County Sheriff’s Annex, the Spring City Red Dogs Football Field, and several churches.

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How did the town and property owners come to an agreement to allow public works to access and clear culverts on private land?

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Leon Locke, the Vice-Mayor at the time and who was on the Resilient Communities Core Committee, lived in this area and spearheaded our efforts in contacting the property owners along the drainage area designated for the work.  The city’s insurance company provided a liability form for each property owner to sign.  Leon contacted each one and was successful in getting 100% participation.

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What improvements have been seen since this agreement was put in place, and how does this approach build the town’s long-term resilience?

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Once all signed liability forms were in hand, the Spring City Public Works Department began clearing the main ditch of overgrowth, debris, and fallen trees. Prior to the project, the ditch line was so obstructed that one could not see from one end to the other. With approximately 50% of the work completed, we have already observed significant improvements in water flow. The water now moves more efficiently toward the Piney River, reducing pooling and the likelihood of flooding. These visible improvements demonstrate the power of partnership and lay the groundwork for long-term resilience.

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What advice would you give to community leaders just starting out on their resilience journeys?

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Approach the program with an open mind, and don’t let past challenges or ongoing issues hinder your progress. The Resilient Communities program helped us deepen public engagement around an issue that residents genuinely care about. It created space for meaningful, solution-driven conversations that previously faced barriers.

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Along the way, we also discovered unexpected benefits—most notably, a valuable partnership with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute to raise awareness about the endangered Laurel Dace, a fish found only in the streams west of Spring City. Through this collaboration, we’ve been able to educate local property owners on how they can contribute to conservation efforts.

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On May 17, 2025, Spring City and the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute co-hosted the inaugural Laurel Dace Day. Nearly 200 people participated in the 5K, with attendees traveling from 36 cities across the U.S., including Winthrop, WA; Boca Raton, FL; Gainesville, FL; and Minneapolis, MN. An estimated 300–350 people attended the event overall.

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This kind of momentum and community pride is possible when people come together with a shared purpose. Resilience isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about relationships, collaboration, and the willingness to build something better together.

Start your Resilient Communities journey.

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Watch this video to learn how Thrive Regional Partnership supports local communities in resilience planning initiatives. Contact us to collaborate!\