WHY WWA NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW
A few years ago, when members of Watauga Watershed Alliance attended a County Commissioner's meeting asking for resolutions to stop a proposed dairy CAFO, one of the commissioners actually said "we want you to do it." Well, we DID want to do it, so the members hatched a plan. It involved challenging Tennessee's definition of agriculture and filing suit against the EPA for allowing the TN Department of Environment and Conservation to issue a permit for the dairy without doing an environmental evaluation and barring adequate citizen input. The CAFO was delayed, fell apart from the inside and died a peaceful death.
Now members work to stop the licensing of an asphalt plant on the banks of Doe Creek, a pristine trout creek which feeds Watauga Lake. Locals didn't want it, the county executive didn't want it and the county road superintendent didn't want it, but no one knew how to stop it. Using our expertise in community organizing, we hired a lawyer, raised money and sued the owners of the plant for violating the Clean Water Act. The suit is still current as of this writing, but negotiations are taking place for a settlement that will favor the health and well-being of our public waters.
What other problems exist now that need attention? Too many for one volunteer group to handle, unfortunately. But with a resounding win over this proposed asphalt plant, a clear message will be sent to other polluters and lackluster politicians: the citizens of Eastern Tennessee value their natural resources and will fight to protect them! Will you become part of this expression of democracy? Email WWA now to find out the best way you and your family can become guardians of our environment.