Watauga Watershed Alliance, formerly Johnson County Citizens for Clean Air and Water, began in the Autumn of 2003 when a handful of residents of Dug Hill Road organized in response to plans by Maymead to build Tennessee’s largest factory dairy in their neighborhood. They adopted the Watauga Watershed Alliance name in 2005 to honor the watershed that supplies Johnson County with all its water. The word "Watauga" is an American Indian word that translates into "whispering waters." Johnson County's watershed serves as the headwater to a network of waterways and dams, which become more polluted as they flow towards the Mississippi River.  With the decline in prime fishing spots and clean water in Tennessee, WWA feels gambling with what remains is an irresponsible path to follow.  Over time, with the influx of new members and a growing awareness of other issues, the group has formed alliances with established organizations, such as the GRACE Factory Farm Project, the Tennessee Environmental Council, the Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, Peace Through Justice Network, TN Clean Water Network, the Water Sentinels, the American Rivers Organization and the Blue Ridge Environment Defense League, all of whom hold impressive track records for their work in environmental justice. The American Rivers Organization placed Roan Creek on their 10 most endangered American Rivers List in 2005 because of the harm the dairy CAFO poses to public waters.   As American Rivers points out, "Rivers are our lifelines. They connect us as a nation, sustain natural systems, provide homes for fish and wildlife, supply half of our drinking water, enrich the quality of our lives and fuel our economy". WWA believes, “we are connected to our watershed in many ways; we cannot simply pull the plug and disconnect ourselves.  Public waters provide life and recreation and tend to heal and calm our troubled minds”. WWA also feels the inevitable growth in the county will increase the demands and threats placed upon Watauga Lake and all river systems. The recent announcement of two multi-thousand acre residential developments on Stone and Doe Mountains mark the beginning of hugh water demands that will put a strain on the aquatic life that lives in a delicate balance within those source waters. Other dirty industries, like the new asphalt plant on Doe Creek, are attracted to counties without adequate land use regulations that leave public waters vulnerable. These threats directly affect the natural and historical heritage of the rivers and, ultimately, public health and quality of life.  WWA is currently participating in TDOT's Adopt a Road program.  They clear litter from a 2 mile stretch of road on scenic 167 no less than once a season. The group sponsored the Great American Clean Up last year and plans to do so again.  On the first day cleaning Town Creek, they pulled out over 900 pounds of trash.  They provided a grant for three high school groups in 2005 to explore sustainable agricultural projects and have arranged to have a state health care worker talk with the Ackerson community about the high number of cancer occurrences and whether they may be attributed to drinking water affected by runoff from the old land fill. This past summer, the group gave their full attention to the upcoming summer elections in Johnson County. We all knew an intelligent county government willing to research and act upon issues, like factory farms and their ill effects, would assure the natural resources in Johnson County, which truly define our heritage, of having a good chance of remaining in place for our children and grandchildren. That candidates who came from outside the established political scene made such a good showing reveals that many Johnson County residents recognize the need for progressive leadership. As Watauga Watershed Alliance continues to grow in membership and encounters future challenges, their focus “will remain to face these threats to the watershed, to hold elected officials accountable and to encourage supporters to become responsible citizens”.

For more information email Dennis Shekinah, WWA President, at wwa@me.com