TITAN America Biodiversity Program in Roanoke

TITAN America’s Roanoke Cement Company launched a new partnership with Trout Unlimited, a national organization dedicated to conserve, protect and restore North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. In March 2009, 350 rainbow trouts “released” into a former quarry pond on TITAN’s site.

In the framework of this new partnership, the quarry pond, in an old limestone pit, filled by groundwater inflows and rainfall, and with adequate control of water level (by pumping) for preventing flooding conditions, has easily met the requirements for hosting the environmentally sensitive trout. TITAN America in Roanoke has planned a second release of trout into Catawba Creek, which passes through the plant property, as another step in this initiative.

TITAN America’s Roanoke cement has developed and applied a long-standing water and land management program at the Troutville plant. For example, every year for the last four years, the plant has held the “Catawba Creek Cleanup,” a Saturday morning gathering of employees and local residents who walk the banks of surrounding Catawba Creek “policing” the stream. Part of the creek is located within the limits of the cement plant and the company has adopted this annual ritual to ensure the area is kept pristine.

Further, TITAN has committed to provide funding for a grassroots program to raise awareness on preserving valuable watershed resources. The Trout Unlimited “Trout In the Classroom” program allows middle to high school students observe trout grow in an aquarium setting in their classrooms. Starting in September and continuing through April, the students bear the responsibility of “baby-sitting” or providing the vulnerable fish with everything they need to live. The students raise the trout from eggs to fingerlings, monitoring water tank quality and engaging in a stream habitat study, while realizing the goals of appreciating water resources, fostering a conservation ethic and understanding ecosystem connectivity. The mature fish are then released back into nature in the spring, a perfect adjunct to TITAN’s clean water efforts. Three local schools completed the program in 2009, and 16 schools are targeted for 2010.