Last Thursday Circuit Court Judge Hub Harrington ruled for the University of Montevallo in a trial over a developer&8217;s plan to open a limestone quarry near Alabaster.

The judge&8217;s decision stops Middle Tennessee Land Development&8217;s plan to dig for limestone on 80 acres off Shelby County 12.

The University of Montevallo contented that the quarry would be an unreasonable use of ground water, a private nuisance and the death of its Ebenezer Swamp, which is used for research and instruction. Harrington said he acted solely to protect the swamp and added that the quarry is an otherwise legal business enterprise.

The judge made the right decision in a difficult case, in which expert witnesses from both sides disagreed entirely.

The quarry could have damaged the swamp, which has benefits for not just the University but also the entire county.

Students from the university get more valuable training in biology, which proves more valuable when they start careers in medicine, education and wildlife sciences.

The swamp contains a wealth of knowledge, which Montevallo has been eager to share. UM plans to build a boardwalk and learning center, where children of ages can learn about wetlands.

But there are also those who can&8217;t speak up for themselves: the assortment of wildlife and plants that call the swamp home. The endangered Tennessee yellow-eyed grass has been found in Ebenezer, as well as several other &8220;critically imperiled&8221; plants.

The swamp has too much potential as an &8220;outdoor classroom&8221; to endanger needlessly. Thank you Judge Harrington for protecting such a valuable learning tool for today and tomorrow&8217;s generations