Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

July 24, 2008 issue


Annual Watauga River Conservation Partners Potluck Picnic August 4


Story by Celeste von Mangan

On Monday, August 4, Watauga River Conservation Partners is holding the group’s annual potluck picnic at the Valle Crucis Community Park beginning at 5:00 p.m. Those who are interested in attending are invited to bring a potluck dish to share. The Watauga River Conservation Partners is a local all-volunteer grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Watauga River from pollution and preserving the integrity of the river and its tributaries. Donna Lisenby, the new Watauga Riverkeeper hired by the Waterkeeper Alliance and Appalachian Voices, will attend the gathering and present her future projects and programs. Blue Ridge Environmental Consultants of Boone is also participating in the event and will speak about a recently completed river restoration project in the park.

“The potluck meeting is a chance for people to get an idea of the work being done to restore and preserve our rivers,” said Richard DeMott, mayor pro-tem of Seven Devils and chair of the Watauga River Conservation Partners of the Western North Carolina Alliance. “I think we’re all vitally concerned with our water and rivers and we are beginning to realize there is a limit to our water supply.

“People think we gain a lot of water when we get those big storms with heavy rains but we also have a lot of impervious surfaces here, as compared to years ago—roads, rooftops, pavement. I call it the whoosh effect, and with that effect, we do not get as much recharge here in the mountains from the rainfall as you do in the flatlands,” DeMott said.

High clay content soil and underlying layers of rock, combined with impervious surfaces and decreased vegetation in the mountains of western North Carolina, often do not allow for optimal absorption and storage of water.

“I do not know what the percentage of impervious surfaces is now, as compared to years ago,” said DeMott, “but there certainly are more because of increased development.”

The Watauga River Conservation Partners also identifies sources of pollution in rivers and helps people and companies rectify the situation if they are causing the water contamination. If those causing water contamination do not want to cooperate, the organization can take them to court. A citizens’ suit provision written into the Clean Water Act of 1972 allows citizen groups like Watauga River Conservation Partners to go to court and sue polluters who steal our right to clean water.

However, impervious surfaces and pollution are not the organization’s only concerns. Water supply is another.“No studies have been made on water availability,” said DeMott. “The water table is a concern. We cannot just develop, develop, develop.”

People interested in joining the Watauga River Conservation Partners are welcome to attend the picnic to learn more about water conservation and preservation efforts being made by the group.

“Bring a little food and come and enjoy the evening and get a feel for what is being accomplished,” said DeMott.

The Watauga River Conservation Partners will provide plates, utensils and drinks.
Call 828-963-8682 for more information.

 

Want To Go?


Date: Monday, August 4
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Valle Crucis Community Park
Cost: Free, bring a dish to share