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The Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River is a grassroots organization working to improve the water quality and habitat of the Tuckasegee River.
Click on NEWS on the Menu at right for MORE PICTURES.
At last --
The soon-to-be-world-famous Scotts Creek Mud Meter !
Mud Meter on Sunday afternoon 4/27 -- Ted Kubit snapped this picture shortly after an intense cloudburst. Craig Green reported that Scotts Creek was running red with mud! -- Our meter works!
We have had phone calls from Ohio and the town of Franklin asking about our meter. (Franklin is in our Little Tennessee River Basin ... and no, you do not need a passport to go there!) We anticipate more interest as YOU spread the word.
FYI --
distilled water --- zero value
clean natural water ------ 2 to 8 units
upper end for trout ------- 10
(would look just slightly hazy)
hazy --------- 20 to 50
murky ------- 100
really muddy -------- 250 to 400
mud --------- above 400
(should we use a fork or do we need a spoon for the mud?)
Always remember, Scotts Creek is a mountain stream that should run clear shortly after a rain storm.
Mud Meter Unveiling
Calling all WATR MEMBERS!
Erosion and Sediment in our creeks -- constitute the biggest water pollution problem in the Tuckasegee River watershed. On Saturday April 26, WATR took a giant step in addressing this problem by unveiling the world's first "Public Mud Meter" -- a Silly Name for a Serious Project.
At the public presentation,our president Dan Perlmutter explained how mud in our creeks is a triple whammy to our trophy species: mountain trout. First, it suffocates the creek bottom creatures, reducing the trout's food supply, and second mud makes feeding near impossible because trout find their prey by sight. Lastly, sediment covers and ruins the gravels where trout lay their eggs -- thus endangering reproduction.
Roger Clapp, our executive director, answered the question: "Just what the heck is a Mud Meter?"
Mayor Brenda Oliver weclomed everyone to the town of Sylva, and she introduced Heath Shuler, telling the standing room only crowd -- Heath Shuler takes our mountain values with him to Washington.
U.S. Representative Heath Shuler commented that it is only with teamwork like --that shown with WATR working with other resource agencies and individuals -- that we will overcome the challenges that face us. Heath also gave a word of praise for NC Senator John Snow who traveled all the way from Murphy for our grand event.
At 1:25 -- right on time -- Dr. Brian Howell, our Not-Too-Mad Scientist/Engineer who designed the Scotts Creek Mud Meter, assisted Rep. Shuler as they removed the tarp covering the sign.
The only glitch was a stray value for turbidity at the time... it registered 60 while the water was in the 3-8 range (visually). Now and then we get a stray reading -- especially when mica sand particles in the water scatter the light in the sensor. Just something we will have to correct in the coming weeks.
GREENING UP the mountains
The WATR booth at the annual Sylva festival was a grand success. Young and old stepped up and earned a micro-diploma in Mudology!
Others learned about the importance of a "Backyard Buffer" as one solution that any landownder can do to curtail erosion -- from our own Ron Arps.
Giant THANK YOUS to Barry Patterson, Linda Ford, Glenn Liming, Ken Brown, Myrtle Schrader, Ralph Wright-Murphy, Craig Green, and others.
Myrtle Schrader's photos of mud, mud, mud - flowing from a subdivision during an early March storm were both appauling and instructive at the same time! How can such mud flow into our Tuckasegee River when officially all of the needed erosion control measures have been met?
So Let's Clean Up YOUR CREEK -- Several volunteers and board members are seriously considering a few concentrated clean-up activities starting in May. Lucretia Stargell and Ralph Wright-Murphy are leading the effort on the first target: Coopers Creek in Swain County. The focus is both road litter and creek garbage.
After that we may do one per month during the summer. Do you want to head up a clean up on your creek this summer? Call or email the office.
"If it is to be... it is up to me!"
Other initiatives:
Backyard Buffers -- Ron Arps, known for his contract organic gardening and for his contra-dancing calling, is exploring ways that WATR can inform citizens of the importance of making their stream-side property river-friendly. Mowed grass down to the river's edge is not healthy for trout, bugs in the water, and for animals who live on the river bank. Let's go for BACKYARD BUFFERS! Interested? Call the office.
WATR Policies and Positions
WATR Policies and Positions Page
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PROPOSED CALENDAR Like most voiunteer groups... Actual events are adjusted based on member interest.
Where can you contribute?
coming events Open luncheons for WATR members -- How can we make a difference... through WATR!
Monthly WATR Wednesday Open Lunch Meetings:
First Wednesday -- Bryson City
Second Wednesday - Sylva
Recent events WATR Picnic At Sylva's Poteet Park on Friday, June 13
Scotts Creek Mud Meter Unveiling & Greening Up the Moutains (Sylva) 4/26 YES THIS WAS THE BIG ONE
First Bryson City Litter Sweep 4/26 Sponsored by the Swain Chamber of Commerce and the Swain Green Women. Congratulations!
Great little clean-up at Speedwell-Tilley Creek On Saturday April 19
We recovered an old, trashed sign -- or was it a beer-bottle target? (Go to the Calendar for another pic.)
Clean Up on Coopers Creek, Swain Co. May 3 -- 15 individuals did a whale of a job in 2 hours and missed the rain. |
WATR Offices 835 Main Street PO Box 2593 Bryson City, NC 28713 828-488-8418 |