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Stretching upward from the beautiful Unaka Valley in Unicoi County,
Tennessee and across the Bald Mountains into Greene County, is a land of
ancient tumbling streams, deep green forests, and a living wild equaled
perhaps only in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That land is the
extraordinary ten thousand-acre Rocky Fork Watershed - and it is in
immediate danger of being destroyed by yet another sprawling gated
development.
This is becoming an increasing problem here in Western
NC and Eastern Tenn., seems like every month another sprawling gated
community is being developed that is destroying mountain sides and
polluting once pristine streams.
Though a group of out-of-state developers and
investors is now attempting to purchase the tract for private development,
an alliance of local and national conservation organizations, private
partners, and government agencies have also united in an urgent effort to
preserve Rocky Fork, now believed to be the last unprotected area of
its size and extraordinary natural features existing in the southern
Appalachians. |
If any of you have fished Rocky Fork Creek in NE Tennessee knows
how wonderful an area it is and if you haven't you really should before it
is too late. Rocky Fork Creek has long been recognized as a State Blue Ribbon
Trout Stream, its headwaters and tributaries provide excellent habitat for
native, and threatened, Appalachian brook trout, as well as wild rainbows. If
you have ever caught a native "speck" then you know what a gem they really are.
Take a few moments and check out the site below and voice your concern.
Thanks,
Bart Fitzpatrick
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