Appalachian Summer 2008 Voice

The future of America’s Best Whitewater Plus: • How Green is your Campus? • Cougars Abound! Or Do They? • The Cost of Wind vs. Coal Power Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 3 APPALACHIAN VOICE Inside this issue A publication of How GREEN is your Campus? Big Trouble on There are many ways to find out how green your • Institute Green fees — A green fee of $5 to $20 191 Howard Street school is. The US EPA has a green power challenge for is part of the student activities fees in hundreds the Gauley River colleges, and Princeton Review has a rating system. of colleges, funding recycling bins, building

Boone, NC 28607 Photo by Michael Sawyer ...... See story on p.12 There are also a dozen ways to make your school conservation, biodiesel fueling and many 1-877-APP-VOICE www.AppalachianVoices.org greener. And there are new funding initiatives other programs. APPALACHIAN VOICES through the Dept. of Education for financing green • Hold Eco-Olympics — Duke university holds Appalachian Voices brings people together to solve the initiatives at the college and K-12 school level. one every year for energy, waste and water environmental problems having the greatest impact on the Hawks Nest Tunnel The First Disaster on the Gauley reduction — www.duke.edu/web/env_alli- central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Our mission Going green? ance/games is to empower people to defend our region’s rich natural and ...... See story on p.15 • Organize — Find groups on campus at www. • Sign up for courses in renewable energy ­— and cultural heritage by providing them with tools and strategies climatechallenge.org sustainability. for successful grassroots campaigns. Appalachian Voices Excerpt from The Book of the Dead A poem about the Gauley disaster • Create a symbol — For example, Appalachian State sponsors the Upper Watauga Riverkeeper® and is also a • Ask your university to join the Association for By Muriel Rukeyser, 1938 University’s solar Christmas tree. the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Member of the Waterkeeper® Alliance. These roads will take you into your own country… • President’s Climate Commitment — Ask your uni- Education (AASHE). All these men cry their doom across the world, versity president to sign the Climate Commitment. • Create an office of sustainability — This has Ed i t o r Bill Kovarik Meeting avoidable death, fight against madness, become standard on campuses. The AASHE has As s o c i a t e Ed i t o r Matt Wasson Find every war. standards and guildelines. As s o c i a t e Ed i t o r Mary Ann Hitt Are known as strikers, soldier, pioneers, Top 10 Green Colleges Resources Ed i to r i a l Bo a r d Ch a i r Harvard Ayers Fight on all new frontiers, are set in solid • Buy green power — Its possible now to buy power Lines of defense… UNC Chapel Hill...... 96 President’s Climate Commitment from renewable sources. www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org Fanatic cruel legend at our back and Warren Wilson (NC)...... 95 Appalachian Voices Staff • Buy green products — Everything from recycled Speeding ahead the red and open west, Elon (NC)...... 94 Association for the Advancement of And this our region, paper to regionally grown food. Sustainability in Higher Education Ex e c u t i v e Di r e c t o r Mary Anne Hitt U.Memphis (TN)...... 94 Desire, field, beginning. Name and road, www.aashe.org o n s e r v a t i o n i r e c t o r James Madison (VA)...... 93 • Build green buildings — The Leadership in Energy C D Matt Wasson Communication to these many men, Duke (NC)...... 93 and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building US Green Building Council Ca m p a i g n Di r e c t o r Lenny Kohm As epilogue, seeds of unending love. www.usgbc.org UVA...... 92 Rating System is a national standard. Green build- Op e r a t i o n s Ma n a g e r Susan Congelosi Photo Submitted NC State...... 90 ings on campus save money and also serve as an EPA Green Power Challenge In-Ho u s e Co u n s e l Scott Gollwitzer VA Tech...... 90 educational example. www.epa.gov/greenpower/partners/hi_ed_challenge.htm As s o c i a t e Di r e c t o r Shelly Connor Trampling the Promised Land...... p. 6 Berea (KY)...... 89 Te c h n o l o g i s t Benji Burrell * From ratings by Princeton Review for NC, VA, TN and KY. Le g i s l a t i v e As s o c i a t e J.W. Randolph Across Appalachia...... p. 9 Na t i o n a l Fi e l d Co o r d i n a t o r Sandra Diaz VA Ca m p a i g n Co o r d i n a t o r Tom Cormons A High Water Year on the New & Gauley Rivers...... p. 16 The Eastern Band’s new K-12 campus VA Fi e l d Or g a n i z e r Mike McCoy The greening of a Cherokee school IT Sp e c i a l i s t Jeff Deal The Long Term Cost of Coal vs. Wind Power ...... p. 18 By Margaret V. Williams to teach the students about [green issues] while they’re Certain public toilets will flush with water stored in Up p e r Wa t a u g a Ri v e r k ee p e r Donna Lisenby experiencing it.” two 30,000-gallon cisterns that will harvest rainwater off Editorials and letters...... p. 19 Seen from high above, the new school might re- The school features natural daylight -- whether from the roof. Lights will have sensors, so that if the natural mind you of the outline of the Big Dipper -- a short its expansive use of windows or its use of solar tunnels light is sufficient, they turn off or dim correspondingly. For Our Members - Appalachian Voices...... p. 20 handle with two circles at the end. Zoom in, and that bring light to interior rooms and gymnasiums. Heating and cooling will come from a geothermal sys- Launches Upper Watauga Riverkeeer you see the circles are two-story buildings tem of almost 300 wells that transfers the ringing huge, one-acre courtyards, and the earth’s temperatures from the depths. In- Naturalist’s Notebook - Cougars...... p. 23 handle holds a stadium and athletic field. terior woodwork will feature the walnut, Appalachian Voices Board of Directors The rooflines slope, curve and swell like the cherry, sycamore, white oak and other surrounding mountains; landscaped walk- trees harvested onsite that totaled about ways wind between stone-trimmed build- 96,000 board feet. Landscaping will feature Ch a i r Lamar Marshall Cover photo: ings; windows soar skyward at entrances. native plants, especially those important Vi c e Ch a i r Brenda Huggins Martin Talbot of Quebec, Canada enjoys Pillow Rock Rapid on the Upper Gauley When finished, the K-12 campus will to Cherokee culture, such as river cane for Tr e a s u r e r Harvard Ayers River on the afternoon of September 22, 2007, during last year’s Gauley River Fes- tival. The little dragon on the top of his helmet is typical of the humor that whitewa- be one of the largest “green” schools east of basket-making, and traditional herbs and At Large: Leigh Dunston, Steve Novak, Andy Brown, ter enthusiasts bring to their sport. Will whitewater enthusiasts continue to flock to the Mississippi. plants used for dye. Janice Nease, Dean Whitworth, Jim Webb, Sarah Wootton, the Gauley and New Rivers in the future? Communities that thrive on eco-tourisim The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indi- The overall curriculum – from elemen- Heidi Binko, Brenda Boozer, Kathy Selvage, Pat Watkins, in the region are worried about the expansion of mountaintop removal mining, ans “are stewards of the land. We always tary to high-school grades – also features Bunk Spann, Matthew Anderson-Stembridge, Steve Ferguson which many people believe poses a threat. Photo by Michael Sawyer have been. We all are,” says Dr. Carmaleta issues, traditions and activities important Monteith, school design coordinator for to the Cherokee, whether it’s stickball or the tribe’s Central Schools Board. A native the native language, Monteith emphasizes. Appalachian Voices VOLUNTEERS: Allen Johnson, April Crowe, Avi Askey, Bent Mountain Branch Library, Beth Davies, Elizabeth Vines, Beth Dixon, Bill and a semi-retired school administrator, Educating children about environmental Wasserman, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Bonnie Aker, Brenda Huggins, Larry Huggins, Carol Rollman, Catherine Murray, Charlie Bowles, Chris Chanlett, Mount Rogers Monteith has helped the board negotiate issues and preparing them for the high- Outfitters, Dave Gilliam, Dave Muhley, Donna Muhley, Dean Whitworth, Deez Beez Books, Dennis Murphy, Detta Davis, Diamond Brand Sports, Dr. Emanuel Mornings, the challenges of building a much-needed tech needs of the 21st century also figure Dr. Richard Roth, Ed Clark, Frances Lamberts, Garielle Zeiger, Gail Marney, General Lewis Inn, Gerry Scardo, Joe Scardo, Great Smoky Mountains Institute, Harvard new school -- from its design to its cultural large, she explains. “We want to train them Ayers, Helen Clark, Jim Shumate, Highland Hiker, Jane Branham, Jennifer Honeycutt, Jim Dentinger, Jennifer Stertzer, Jere Bidwell, Jeremy Stout, John Wrestler, Julian and environmental curriculum. “One of the for leadership roles,” Monteith says. Martin, Kathleen Colburn, Kathy Selvage, Ken Schaal, Kim Greene McClure, Kirsty Zahnke, Lewisburg Library, Linda Milt, Lowell Dodge, Margaret Roy, Mike Boone, most exciting parts, for me, is not just to save Continued on next page Mike McKinney, New River RHA, Annette Watson, New River State Park, Ray Vaughan, Ruth Gutierrez, Shay Clanton, Steve Brooks, Steve Moeller, Tom Cook, Tony resources and protect the environment, but Brown, Williamsburg Post Office, Ray Zimmerman, Loy Lilley, Brad Wood, Margaret Elsea, Jennifer Hebner, Gerald Gibbons, Blue Smoke Coffee Roasting Co. Su m m e r , 2008 Pa g e 4 Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 5 The greening of a “green” but “culturally sensitive.” Cherokee school “It’s a beautiful campus,” says Frank Cooper, director if Before clearing the site began, for Continued from previous page example, archaeologists explored it, Hiking the Highlands the Cherokee Boys Club. Even the color schemes being retrieving evidence of human occupa- Snipe Trail one of many attractions at Kanawha State Forest “It’s a culturally complimentary used will compliment its riverside setting at the edge of tion that dates back to 8,000 B.C., Mag- project,” agrees Frank Cooper, direc- gie Carnevale pointed out in a 2006-07 ll of a sudden, we saw a snake, tor of the Cherokee Boys Club and the reservation and next to the Smoky Mountain National report in the WNC Greenbuilding lounging in the cool, rocky Ka n a w a h St a t e Fo r e s t Guide published by Asheville news- watersA of a creek in the Kanawha financial advisor. The geothermal HIKING LENGTH: Varies. The CCC Snipe Trail is 0.75 system will bring energy costs down Park.... [and] everyone involved in the project has strived paper, Mountain Xpress. Carnevale State Forest. miles. The Mary Ingles Trail is 12 miles. The state in a big way, he says. “The campus is is an architect with the team that de- It was a little snake, about a foot forest includes more than 25 miles of trails. signed the school -- Padgett and Free- long. Yet I couldn’t tell what kind it 50 percent bigger than the two existing to make it not just “green” but “culturally sensitive.” WHERE TO START: Kanawha State Forest, Charles- [schools], but the energy costs will be man Architects of Asheville. “We’re was. Neither could my hiking buddy, ton, W.Va. half,” he says. Part of the money-sav- over half-way done,” Carnevale says Justin. Park Service. going away party,” she says of leaving TO GET THERE: From I-64 in Charleston, take Exit ing equation is “SIP” panels in the walls of the construction stage. The school Was this a fake snake? The campus, says Monteith, is about her career in the Atlanta area and return- Joe Tennis 58A, drive south on U.S. 119. Turn left onto Oak- and ceilings -- a sandwich of plywood, is slated for completion by May, 2009, Did somebody plant this here? wood Road at the second stop light (following the so much more than the politics of the ing home. “I never really left [Chero- is the author of insulating foam, and plywood, Cooper with students filling its halls later that Sure. Maybe. And, hey - what a brown and white signs). Go 0.75 miles. Take a left land swap. kee],” she continues, agreeing with “BEACH TO explains. year. “There was a large compilation of great place for one! before George Washington High School, continuing For starters, she and Cooper point Coopers’ point about the importance of BLUEGRASS: on Oakwood Road. Turn right onto Bridge Road “We’re trying to do the right thing,” people [working] on the design from The CCC Snipe Trail, after all, out that the tribe’s current elementary family and its connection to the school Places to Brake and then right onto Connell Road. At the bottom he continues, mentioning that one of his the start ... who wanted to make this as is named for the Civilian Conser- school is at least 50 years old and so project. Home was never more than a on Virginia’s of Connell, make a sharp left onto Kanawha Forest functions in the project has been to help environmentally sensitive a project as vation Corps, which set the course Drive and follow to the forest entrance. asbestos-ridden that “the children have few hours away, and family and tradi- Longest Road” (The negotiate contracts for the new school. possible,” she adds, naming the Eastern of a water line in the woods in been [taking classes] in trailers for tion are so integral, that she was often Overmountain DURATION: Varies. Band, National Park Service, the Blue Press), which 1939. That line served CCC Camp years,” says Monteith. back home, Monteith adds. INFO: (304) 558-3500 Decades in the making Ridge Parkway, and many others. profiles trails, Kanawha and, later, the Kanawha Cooper refers to Monteith as a Monteith confesses that when tribal www.kanawhastateforest.com The Eastern Band started searching With Monteith and other tribal lead- waterfalls, parks State Forest. WEB: retired schoolteacher who, like many leaders first asked her to help with the ers, the designers toured similar Native Today, this trail follows the water for a building site and planning for a Cherokee, gives back to her community. school project, she didn’t immediately and landmarks new school as early as the 1970s. By American facilities in the Pacific North- along U.S. line. “If you don’t live here,” he says, “you accept the role. “I reminded them I was Kanawha extends over 9,300 the time Joyce Dugan, a former school west, looking for ideas and inspiration. Highway 58. Now here comes the legend: New don’t realize how integrated the adult supposed to be retired. [But] it’s an op- acres. The Alligator Rock Trail - rated moderate administrator, became chief in 1993, the They came up with the emphasis on natu- arrivals at Camp Kanawha were often initiated and the youth communities are here.” portunity of a lifetime … to be able to “But,” Dials said, “if you get out and use to difficult - is a half-mile hike named for an tribe was united in the push to exchange ral lighting, recycled materials, a green- by being sent on a “Snipe Hunt” at night along Retired? Monteith laughs. “I don’t give back to the community and share the forest, you’ll probably see less than half outcrop that looks like an alligator. several hundred acres of land with the way connecting the campus to downtown this trail, hunting for birds. Such a funny prac- think I ever really retired. I did have a my knowledge. And, of course, this is Cherokee, high-tech stations for students, tice ultimately ended, however, when several of it.” BUT, WAIT - LET’S GET BACK TO THE my family,” she says. native landscaping, walking trails, a per- rookies got lost in the early 1940s. ALONG THE CCC SNIPE TRAIL, we dis- SNAKE. A lot has changed since she was vious parking lot to reduce storm runoff, TODAY, IT IS AMAZING that the remote covered remains of an old coal mine that had The first time we crossed that footbridge growing up in Cherokee. She laughs and more. Even the usual waste associ- wilderness of the Kanawha State Forest lies been sealed by the CCC in the early 1940s. on the CCC Snipe Trail, that snake lay in the again and says that she finds herself ated with any major construction site has just 15 minutes from the urban landscape of Once, while working deep inside this mine, water, his head on a rock. referring to periods of time as “before- been and will be recycled -- 92 percent of Charleston, the West Virginia capital. the CCC crews discovered 26 mash barrels that “I think he’s just trying to cool off,” Justin casino” and “after-casino.” Harrah’s it to date, says Carnevale. Prior to being established as a state forest had been abandoned by bootleggers. said, carefully peering into the creek. presence and related financial benefits In the end, the facility hopes to earn with facilities for the public, this was a mining A short spur from the trail leads to the I soldiered on, not wanting to stare. in the community have given the tribe a silver-level LEED certification -- the and timbering area. mine entrance, where a marker notes that the Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off the creek the resources to do many of the things next-highest seal of approval from the “Hiking is very popular. Mountain biking mine holds 11 million gallons of water. with our return. that have needed doing for years, such U.S. Green Building Council’s Lead- is very popular,” said Kevin Dials, the state Beyond the mine, in just a few yards, the Turns out, that snake was no phony. He as building a unified campus that’s en- ership in Energy and Environmental forest’s assistant superintendent. “We have a trail crosses a wooden footbridge. Beyond was gone. vironmentally sensitive and culturally Design. Carnevale adds that part of that lot of geo-cachers that are out here.” that, in hardly more than a couple hundred Did he swim downstream? Was he on relevant, she points out. “cultural sensitivity” Cooper refers to Dials offered a brief tour of the state forest, yards, the CCC Snipe Trail forms an intersec- rock? Was he waiting for us? Construction of the Cherokee Cen- has become an inherent component of bouncing along dusty, gravel roads that lead to tion with more trails in the state forest. I turned tense. tral Schools campus was estimated at the design: Facilities and spaces link to- the shooting range and overlooking the woodsy Names of treks across the Kanawha range Never along this trail did I see a snipe. more than $108 million, according to gether, share space where possible, and campground, carved into the rocky hills. from “Rattlesnake Trail” to “Spotted Salaman- But, be careful: The West Virginia woods BE&K, the construction firm working demonstrate “respect for their natural It takes about eight miles to get from der Trail,” “Logtown Trail,” “Overlook Rock are, indeed, wild and wonderful - just like the on the project. It encompasses almost surroundings” in ways honoring the downtown Charleston to the state forest. Trail” and “Alligator Rock Trail.” state slogan says. 500,000 square feet of school buildings Cherokee culture. for its elementary, middle- and high- “We’re trying to do the right thing,” school students. It offers more than 9,000 says Cooper, mentioning such related square feet of dining space (separated efforts as getting all the school buses by school groups), a shared 4,032 SF running on biodiesel. kitchen, four gymnasiums, stickball All good. But Monteith reminds us fields for the traditional Cherokee sport, that the campus will educate Cherokee football and baseball fields, a track and youth and prepare them for the 21st generous open spaces. century. She hopes that its curriculum “It’s a beautiful campus,” says Coo- -- blending the basics with tribe culture, per. Even the color schemes being used high-tech training, college-prep courses, will compliment its riverside setting at and environmental lessons -- will teach the edge of the reservation and next to kids how to be better stewards of the the Smoky Mountain National Park. He earth than, perhaps, we older folks have reiterates that everyone involved in the been. “We have to do the best job we can, project has strived to make it not just not just for now, but for the future.”

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Photo by Trip Huxley Trampling the “There’s an aging landowner popu- Promised Land lation, which makes challenges for who’s going to farm in the next generation and Continued from previous page to one development to population how these farms will be passed along ratio, and “that’s pretty much the intact,” Cohn said. “Aging landowners case across the country,” said Ed Farmland Trust. The median cost for are getting offered more money for their McMahon, senior resident fellow of U.S. counties surveyed to build infra- land than they could ever imagine, and the Urban Land Institute in Wash- structure for new housing developments it’s a real opportunity for retirement. I ington D.C. “We call it ‘driving to was $1.19 for every tax dollar raised. In want to put myself in their shoes. Farm- qualify,’” he said. “You keep driv- contrast, working and open land cost 37 ers don’t have 401(k)’s and they haven’t Trampling ing away from a city until you can cents for every tax dollar raised. accumulated a lot of cash. “ qualify for a mortgage. While residents who cannot afford “Farmers call it ‘growing houses,’” Some regions of Appalachia to keep developers out find themselves said Ross. “They don’t want their land the have even more intense develop- increasingly fenced off from old hunting to go to growing houses,” Ross said. ment to population ratios. The grounds and childhood haunts, there is “There’s an old saying: you can milk Promised Upstate region of South Carolina, widespread mistrust for zoning regula- a cow every day but you can eat ham- for example, has experienced de- tions. Wyche tells about a couple who burger only once. That’s the trouble with velopment growth that outpaced filled out a Greenville County planning building houses.” Land its population increases by five to commission survey. “At the bottom of one, according to a report issued in the form this couple wrote: ‘We love the PRICED OUT OF THEIR February by Clemson University. Blue Ridge area just as it is. We don’t Drawing by Linda Burton COMMUNITIES Suburban Sprawl Now Dominates The Rural Landscape of America Land there is being developed at a rate want zoning. Please leave us alone.’ Cassie Robinson’s story is perhaps What we’re seeing in our area is that of 90 acres a day. Brad Wyche, executive America is losing two acres of farmland oper just has to dig a well, and who cares a case in point. She was unable to buy people are realizing that they can’t have By Kathleen Marshall small cuts,” said Jamie Ross, pro- director of the Upstate Forever land every minute. Farmland area equivalent if it goes dry in three months?” her great-grandfather’s house in Mars it both ways. We are going to continue to ducer of the four-part PBS series trust, says his board will be promoting to the size of Maryland was converted “On net, the people who are com- Hill, North Carolina when it became grow. There is nothing we can do about The story of development in Appalachia, which will air na- a one to one ratio of development to by development between 1992 and 1997, ing into Appalachia have less education, available. Her father helped build the that, the population is increasing, like Appalachia goes back to 1585, tionally in spring 2009. The oral population growth. and the rate is accelerating. North Caro- lower job status, and less income. In house; her grandmother dug out the dirt it or not.” when Lt. Ralph Lane sent survey- historian and filmmaker travelled lina’s farmland and natural lands are some ways Appalachia is becoming an basement with a dishpan. “My aunt and “PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE” “One of the policies we’ve been pro- ors to explore from what would, extensively documenting the being developed at a rate of 277 acres per amenity region for the poor,” said Prof. uncle hit some hard times; it came up for Not only are Appalachian taxpayers moting is the notion of service bound- one day, be Chesapeake Bay values and physical changes of day. “North Carolina is tied for the lead Phillip Obermiller, editor of Appalachia sale,” she said. “A woman from Florida losing some of their most picturesque aries,” said Wyche. “It’s not zoning; south to present-day North Caro- the cultural landscape of Ap- in number of farms lost in 2006,” said Counts: the Region in the 2000 Census, was more than willing to pay more than scenery and farms that feed them locally, it’s not regulation. It’s saying, within lina. In a letter back to England, palachia. Gerry Cohn, Southeast states director a special edition of the Journal of Ap- twice what the house was worth. The it may be costing them money as well. this area we will be providing services the Elizabethan explorer wrote, “We did spend at least eight for the American Farmland Trust. “It’s palachian Studies compiled in 2004. blood and sweat and labor of my dad Ross calls new developments “a drain and infrastructure: water, sewer, roads, “. . . we have discovered the main years traveling from Alabama to in the top three for number of acres of “If there’s a loss of affordable land and and my uncles ñ that had such a value on the community tax base, with roads widening roads, and schools. If you to bee the goodliest soile under the New York State,” Ross said, “and prime farmland lost, your best soils.” Of housing in the market that denies people to me. Being a young professional, I and schools and sewage.” Opponents of talk to any developer, they will tell you cope of heaven, so abounding with even just along Hwy 81 it is as- states losing the most farmland between shelter, Appalachia is going to be in very couldn’t afford to buy it.” rural sprawl argue that counties region- that if you have water, sewer, a good sweete trees, that bring such sundry Photo by Lamar Marshall tounding to see the subdivisions 1992 and 1997, Georgia was third, North dire straits. If many Appalachians can no She has since moved to Harlan ally and nationally are losing tax dollars road and a good school, they are com- rich and most pleasant gummes, grapes replacing silos outside of places like Carolina was fourth, and nine of the longer afford to buy the house down the County, Kentucky, where she is assistant to pay for “cost of community services” ing. We taxpayers are providing those of such sweetnes, yet wild, as France, of the rural landscape, according to Abingdon and Lexington and Bristol thirteen states that comprise Appalachia street or the farm next door, and as new- director of Pine Mountain Settlement for new development ñ water, sewer, services and that infrastructure. What Spaine nor Italy hath no greater . . . . . it is Housing Growth in the U.S. from 1940 - – just damn depressing.” were in the top twenty. comers with low incomes seek refuge in School. “That was a hard lesson,” she emergency services, road maintenance a wonderful way to manage growth by the goodliest territorie of the world . . . for 2030, a study released in April of this “That’s the one issue across the the region, it’s going to impact them as said, “on not being entitled to participate DRIVING TO QUALIFY and more. Cherokee County, Georgia, being smart about where we are putting the soile is of a huge unknowen greatnesse year. Appalachia is also experiencing region. Development is happening with- well. What we’re talking about here is a in your culture at the level that people Between 1982 and 1997, population reported spending $1.59 on residential all these things.” . . . .” out any seeming consideration or atten- double whammy.” The very people who moving in could.” growth; expanding metropolitan areas in the South grew by 22.2 percent, the community services for every tax dollar Fast forward 423 years, and Lane’s tion to the capacity of the land and how could afford to buy the farm next door “You see so much of that happen. and a swelling number of seasonal and highest population growth in the U.S. raised, and Blount County, Tennessee VANISHING FARMLAND “unknowen greatnesse” is being stran- many wells it can sustain,” Ross said. “A in central and northern Appalachia, he You see people being priced out of their retirement homes in non-metropolitan by percentage. During that same period, reported spending $1.23, according to Farmland is proving particularly gled by sprawl. U.S. housing growth farmer has to consider the future, what says, are moving away, while the older communities.” areas are fueling significant growth, in urbanized land in the South grew by 2007 figures released by the American vulnerable to development pressures. is now “ubiquitous” and the sprawl the Carolinas and Georgia in particular, the land can sustain next year. A devel- populations are aging in place. once associated primarily with urban 59.6 percent, according to The Brook- the study said. ings Institution. That is a nearly three Continued on next page areas has become a dominant feature “The land’s dying from a thousand

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Across Appalachia To keep up with the latest, see www.AppalachianVoices.org

National Parks rain damage, smoggy skies, poisoned streams, and global threatened warming are a few of the other problems. By Katie Easter The 28 prospective plants will emit 122 million tons of car- Fact—onein three national bon dioxide, 79 thousand tons of parks have above standard air sulfur dioxide, 52 thousand tons pollution. of nitrogen oxides, and 4 thou- Fact—there are over 100 new sand pounds of toxic mercury coal fired plants across the coun- into the parks. try. “Polices of the Clean Air Fact—currently 28 new plants Act are not enforced,” says are to be developed within 186 the report.Changes have been miles of ten national parks. proposed that will provide the “lowest possible degree of pro- The Great Smoky Mountains tection” and make it easier for of Tennessee and North Carolina, all people who enjoy or hope to one day Over the past 30 years, there have coal companies to build closer Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, and the enjoy National Parks. been regulators monitoring spikes in to national parks. Shenandoah of Virginia are three of the “The Clean Air Act is supposed to emissions during times of increased For individuals to reduce the need mountains that are already affected ac- prevent major polluters like coal plants energy demands. Regulators monitor for new power plants, the NPCA report cording to the National Parks Conserva- from degrading park air quality…” for both three and twenty-four hour states, “if all Americans made a few tion Association. according to the report, “regulatory time increments. small changes…replacing old light bulbs The NPCA report, Dark Horizons: changes have been proposed to make According to the NPCA report, with energy efficient ones…driving less, 10 National Parks Threatened by New Coal it easier to build new coal-fired power the problems are bigger than just poor and recycling more.” Fired Plants, presents a call to action for plants close to the national parks.” visibility—breathing problems, acid

Appalachian Voices is proud to announce An Evening with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr

Thursday, October 23, 8:00 pm

Farthing Auditorium Appalachian State University Boone, NC

Ticket info available at the Box Office 1-800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046

Members Only There will also be an invitation-only event for Appalachian Voices’ Members at 5pm. Tickets for the pre-event are limited, please email [email protected] or call Appalachian Voices at 828-262-1500 for more info or to reserve your tickets.

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Across Appalachia To keep up with the latest, see www.AppalachianVoices.org

Clean Coal Publicity nologies let coal be “carbon neutral.” “To utilize children as a promotional Environmental groups have pointed out tools for a dirty energy source … is Generates Backlash that carbon capture and sequestration reprehensible.” Expect to see more “Clean Coal” technologies are in fact decades away Pollution emitted from coal-fired ads on TV this fall. With the presidential and that renewable energy makes more power plants causes an estimated election a few months off, the US coal sense when all costs are taken into ac- 24,000 deaths each year, the PSR said. industry is entering high gear with its count. Coal plants are also the single larg- $35 million campaign. The coal industry publicity has est source of mercury, which causes The coal industry claims that coal generated a backlash, with YouTube development disorders in children, “keeps the lights on” and that new tech- parodys and genuine outrage by groups the group said. (To see child actors like Physicians for Social Re- in pro-coal ads, search for Ameri- sponsibility. casPower.org.) The doctors group was espe- Meanwhile, a new bumper stick- by United Mine Workers of America cially angry that the coal indus- er idea is making the rounds in West President Cecil Roberts, along with Con- try used child actors in their ads. Virginia: “Wind – Safe, clean, carbon gressman Nick Rahall of West Virginia neutral.” and other UMWA officials. Blizzard led the largest armed rebellion since the The Joke’s on ‘Clean Coal’: Search Civil War against the coal industry, but YouTube for “Coal is the Cleanest Mine Wars Leader refused to fight federal troops. He was Thing Ever” and “Say No to Liquid Remembered acquitted of treason charges in 1922. Coal.” The cartoons mock coal Blizzard’s son, William C. Blizzard, is greenwashing with a supposed attack Followup to the Spring 2008 Ap- seated. Some 200 people were there for on green solar energy which “comes palachian Voice story “Baseball and the unveiling, but no coal industry ex- at a terrible price” in the form of Rebellion:” A state historical marker to ecutives were able to attend, Publisher sunburn. Also see http://www.coal- honor Bill Blizzard and his role in the Wess Harris said. is-dirty.com/ mine wars of 1921 was unveiled in April

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Running the Gauley gauntlet: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th photos by Michael Sawyer. 4th, 5th and 6th photos by Jeff Macklin. At left, a map of the Gauley and New River Gorge region.

a sludge spill like the one that hit Inez, Tawney said. “I don’t want to say, ‘hey, Kentucky in 2000. don’t come here because it’s getting pol- “Right behind the town of Ansted luted.’ But if more people knew what there are many mine works, full of wa- they were rafting in, it would change in Story by Bill Kovarik on the ter,” said Hoffman. “It’s honeycombed a heartbeat.” back in there with old mine works. One Mayor questions best use merican’s best whitewater is in or stop the min- of those ponds where they’ll be working is on top of old works. “ big trouble. ing. Yet, if it fails, The town at the center of the contro- Gauley and New River “When they start blasting, it’s very, very Mountaintop removal residents fear that versy, Ansted, has never seen anything likely that we will have blowouts,” she said. mining has arrived. Already their mountain Gorge residents worry that like current controversy. one trout stream is dead and could end up like new mining operations will ‘It will shrink your hand’ Established in 1873, and named for a another is in jeopardy. so many others, British geologist, Ansted became a boom Whitewater rafters and kayakers and the Gauley destroy tourism and their James Tawney, a farmer and a mem- town at the center of deep mining. But who flock to the region each summer River itself could hopes for the future ber of the West Virginia Highlands by the 1960s the unemployment rate was andA fall won’t see much difference at this take on the red Conservancy, lives on 120 acres of land around 25% and the town shrank. Its cur- point. The Gauley River still explodes hues and power- close enough to the Gauley River that he rent population is about 1,500. through an intoxicating canyon below ful smells that have industrial disasters. (See sidebar: the Hawks can hear it from his house. He grew up Mayor “Pete” Hobbs remembers the Summerville Dam, and the New hurt the fishing and whitewater business Nest Disaster). nearby and would come to the river with the boom and bust times, and like many River still carves its way through one of in other parts of the state. The Gauley River draws about 60,000 his wife when he was younger, scram- people in the 1960’s, he had to leave the the world’s most scenic gorges. experienced rafters to its class five rapids bling through breathtaking, state to find work. He spent 37 years However, rapidly expanding moun- Gauley Season every September and October when water is National Park land untouched forest. “The rock with AT&T, retiring as a general man- taintop removal mining is boosting the released from the Summersville dam during Possible proposed extension to cliffs and waterfalls were like ager, and returned to an area where his flow of sediment and toxic wastes into The Gauley – New River region is “Gauley Season.” The Gauley River Festival National Park land hidden jewels,” he said. wife has relatives. By then his own home shaped like the head of a miner’s shovel the rivers. As things now stand, mining on Sept. 19-21 in Summersville is one of the Past and current surface mining His dream was to es- town, Smithers, no longer existed. He is will keep expanding, section by section, pointed northwest, with the New River largest whitewater festivals in the country. tablish a business to cater determined that Ansted will not suffer on the southwest side, the Gauley on Past and current surface mining bite by bite, until Gauley Mountain is “Bridge Day” – Oct. 18 this year -- is when on Gauley Mountain to whitewater enthusiasts, that fate. gone. And any hope for expanding the the northeast, Gauley Mountain in be- possibly a resort and res- “When you look at a map, you see a tens of thousands watch as over 400 people Hawks Nest Tunnel recreation areas downstream will disap- tween, and the town of Ansted at the parachute off New River Gorge Bridge into taurant. But now the dream beautiful pristine area between those two Hawks Nest Rail Trail pear with the mountain. base. Both rivers flow north and west, the New River more than 876 feet below. is on hold as he watches rivers,” he says. “And the question is, As a result, local political leaders are joining at Gauley Bridge to become the Rafting, festivals, restaurants and hos- Proposed extension of Hawks mountaintop removal min- what it the best use of the property?” Nest Rail Trail raising urgent questions about the future Kanawha, flowing down the slopes of pitality generates an estimated $50 million a ing getting closer. Already “In my personal opinion, whatever of the region. R.A. “Pete” Hobbs, mayor the Allegheny Mountains into the Ohio year a year for the region. Map by Appalachian Voice. May not be exact a coal company has been we decide to use that property for, it rep- of Ansted WV, warns that the new min- River Valley. to scale. Note that park extension boundaries drilling core samples on 90 resents the gateway to the future of town are hypothetical. ing permits “will be extremely negative The region is surrounded to the east, Mining impacts of his acres where they own of Ansted and Fayette County.” to the quality of life” in the area. north and west by mountaintop removal mineral rights. (For more by the major and other area Many others are deeply worried. mining operations, but until 2007, only Residents are most worried about Tawney’s land is located residents, see links at www.appvoices.org). “What [the coal companies] are doing a little mining has taken place near Powellton Coal Company’s mining op- near Peters Creek and a section of the Tourism could be the long range here is criminal,” said Kathryn Hoffman. the Gauley and New River recreation erations on Gauley Mountain. Mining Gauley that, officially, has experienced economic engine for the area, Hobbs and “Say your prayers for us. It’s going to get areas. started before the permit was approved, only one coal slurry spill. Tawney be- others hope. To promote it, they have ugly before it’s done.” The New River attracts more than according to state Department of Envi- lieves the spills are constant, and that helped create a hiking trail from the town The controversy has become so bitter 150,000 people for raft trips every year. It ronmental Protection documents. Sur- they are changing the river. to Hawks Nest Park on the New River, 13 that a religious service at the foot of Gau- is geologically archaic, taking an unlikely veys for blasting and road use were not “I do see a difference in the Gauley miles to the South. The same trail could be ley Mountain erupted into a shouting course northward from the highlands of North made before mining started, and plans the town put up a fight, the coal company sites have held up the construction. To however, that a world class trout stream now,” Tawney said. “I won’t swim in it. extended to the Gauley whitewater area match between blue-shirted miners and Carolina and Virginia. Its storied history for handling drainage had not been ap- had to back off. continue expanding, Powelton built is now dead, and that the stream runs I’ve stuck my hands into the ponds that another 20 miles north, Hobbs hopes. But praying demonstrators last April, and the includes a 250 year old escape from captivity proved. All of these violations have been Another problem is the way Powell- ditches to connect the new runoff areas coffee brown in a rainstorm. run into the Gauley. The water is red- there won’t be much point in a new trail sermon was never finished. by Mary Ingles Draper; skirmishes during corrected, state officials say. ton Coal expanded its sludge impound- to the old settlement ponds above Rich Yet another concern is that blasting orange. It will shrink your hand up.” if the mountains are flattened. A pending proposal to expand the the Civil War; mine wars during the early Original plans called for coal trucks ments and runoff settling ponds. Court Creek. Whether the new technique has on Gauley Mountain could blow out Residents are in a “Catch-22” situ- th National Park boundaries could slow 20 century; and one of the nation’s worst to run through the town of Ansted 24 cases involving other companies at other contributed to heavy runoff in Rich Creek one of dozens of abandoned water-filled ation, Tawney and others say. “We Continued on next page hours a day, seven days a week. When is open for debate. There’s no debate, underground coal mines nearby, creating don’t want to scare away the tourists,” Su m m e r , 2008 Su m m e r , 2008 Pa g e 14 Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 15

Big Trouble on the Powellton Coal Co. Violations of of impact.” Gauley Environmental Law On Gauley Mountain But will that affect the whitewater Continued from previous page business over the long run? “This canyon By Bill Kovarik Aug 24, 2007 – Started operations without a permit has had its fair share of abuse,” he notes. Seventy five years ago, the Prayers interrupted Aug. 28 2007 – Failed to properly notify public of blasting operations. “If you look at photos of what this place area where the Gauley River and Aug 28 2007 – Started suface mining operations in parts of Rich Creek without looked like at the turn of the century, it was the New Rivers meet became Father Roy Crist, an Episcopal certifying sediment control just stripped for all the timber to help prop known as the site of America’s priest, supervises three churches but still up the mines.” But today it looks like a rain Aug 28, 2007 – Failed to certify access before hauling coal worst industrial tragedy. finds time to serve as president of the Ansted forest, he said. The same water power that – Failed to submit surveys, waivers or affidavits for each Historic Preservation Council. Sept. 12, 2007 “We are fortunate. Mother Nature has today attracts recreational enthu- dwelling .... Prior to any blasting. The most important thing to preserve done a phenomenal job of reclaiming the siasts from over the world was, now is the mountain, he says. “If they mine river.” at the time, attracting the atten- that entire (Gauley area), we’re looking at “There was a hearing at Hawks Nest last ing the Civil Rights movement. The first Gene Clair, a Park Service geologist, tion of hydroelectric engineers. a huge sore spot right in the middle of the September, and we spoke against granting took place without incident in November also says he is not worried about the impact They built a massive tunnel that most visited site in West Virginia, he said. the permit. The DEP (Department of En- 2007. of mining on the rivers. The law requires channeled water from the New “God did not give us this land to destroy but vironmental Protection) paid no attention In April 2008, fifty people gathered for mines to stay at least 300 feet from the park into the Gualey to generate over he gave us this land to take care of, and we’re and issued permit anyway, even though the a second Blessing of the Mountains. The boundaries, he notes. 100 megawatts of electricity be- not doing a very god job of that. “ company started mining without it.” group was stopped by a blockade halfway Although acknowledging that there tween 1928 and 1932. The mining operation actually started One protest tactic has been to hold up the mountain. As the service began at the was at least one spill on Peters Creek in By 1933, news of some kind of without a clean water permit,” he said. prayer meetings, similar to those held dur- roadside, a group of twenty or thirty miners 2001, and a number of permit violations on disaster was beginning to emerge. in pickup trucks, wearing blue company Rich Creek, he believes they were minor Hundreds of men – now estimated “If they mine that entire (Gauley area), we’re looking at a shirts came roaring down the road and incidents. “They’ve been operating pretty at 476, most of them African Amer- stopped at the service and began yelling good in past,” he said. ican -- died simply because they huge sore spot right in the middle of the most visited site and screaming. He also notes that Powellton is “armor- were not given protective gear. in West Virginia. God did not give us this land to destroy “There was a lot of taunting and razzing ing” channels to reintroduce the trout in Most of the victims were buried Rich Creek, below the mining operations. in common, unmarked graves. Thou- when we were trying to do the service,” he had been carried out but he gave us this land to take care of, and we’re not So far there is no word on the success of the sands more were permanently injured, said. “They kept interrupting with things “with grave and inhu- program. unable to walk home to other states, doing a very god job of that.” Father Roy Christ, president of like ‘turn your lights off’ or ‘it’s all about man disregard for the health, lives giving Hawks Nest, WV, the appearance Photos submitted the Ansted Historical Preservation Council jobs.’ “ During the sermon, one of the and future of the employees.” The com- Extending the park of a “town of the living dead,” according miners began shouting a few inches away mittee placed the blame squarely on the to a 1936 magazine article. from the minister’s face, yelling that he was Perhaps the best hope for protecting shoulders of the company: The negligence Nest by Hubert Skidmore was pulled out In 2008, historian Patricia Spangler The men were killed by silicosis, an lying, that coal companies don’t mess up the the New and Gauley Rivers would be to “was either willful or the result of inex- of print by the publisher, and Skidmore published The Hawks Nest Tunnel: “occupational disease” that occurs when mountains, that they put the dirt back when make the National park areas bigger. Con- cusable and indefensible ignorance.” himself died in a mysterious fire. An Unabridged History. Along with a workers breathe fine particles of glassy they are through. “ gressman Nick Rahall of West wants to do In the end, none of the company of- As late as the 1970s, historians said summary of events, Spangler published sand that cuts through lung tissues with “After service was over, a lot of our just that. ficials went to jail. A few families of the they were receiving death threats and fac- hundreds of full original documents steady and predictable effect. group went around and talked with coal “The legacy is not complete,” Rahall victims received settlement checks for a ing legal action for trying to uncover the surrounding the incident. This valuable The deaths and injuries could have miners,” Crist said. “I told them I was glad said in April 2008. “I believe that serious few hundred dollars at most. But most truth about the incident. To this day, many work allows us to objectively analyze been prevented had the company issued they were there to worship with us. I wasn’t consideration should be given to extending significantly, the laws regarding occu- of the grave sites have not been found. the disaster while, at the same time, dust masks and used “wet” drilling frightened,” he said. the park boundaries of the New and Gau- pational disease and labor safety were Physician Martin Cherniak was sense the outrage and horror behind methods. But wet drilling might have Hoffman said she was afraid of the ley to their confluence with the Kanawha rewritten during the New Deal era with the first historian publish a book on the witness testimony and committee diluted the value of Gauley Mountain’s miners. “It’s insane – I can’t believe it’s hap- River… There are other areas along the New the Hawks Nest incident in mind. the Gauley disaster. Cherniak said he reports of the first Gauley disaster 75 pure silica that was in the tunnel’s path. pening here,” she said. where boundary adjustments are in order, The incident became even more fa- struggled to maintain his objectivity years ago. Dust masks were not used because, so that we can maintain the integrity of that mous when poet Muriel Rukeyser wrote while writing The Hawks Nest Incident: Today, the tunnel from the New the company claimed, they did not Nature reclaims all with which God has blessed us here in New “The Book of the Dead” in 1938 and America’s Worst Industrial Disaster. River to the Gauley still generates 107 know about silicosis. Even so, white Ironically, it was published only a few megawatts of electricity, like it did 75 Jeff Proctor, managing director of Class River Country.” included many of the documents from engineers who took rock samples in years after Union Carbide’s disaster at years ago. Since it uses a public resource, Six Whitewater, is living the dream. He and As chairman of the powerful House the Congressional committee. the tunnels were using dust masks. Ap- Bhopal, India, where 10,000 people died the project was originally to revert in friends from Ohio established the company Committee on Natural Resources, Rahall Aside from that book, the companies parently, the lives of African Americans from a cyanide leak at a chemical plant ownership back to the state of WV in the in Lansing, WV 35 years ago. “A great day certainly has the clout to make it happen. successfully suppressed information about were hardly thought to be worth the cost on Dec. 3, 1984. 1980s. However, the state exchanged it for at the office,” he says, “is (in) the Lower He also has a history of protecting rivers: the incident. Even a novel called Hawks of the masks. land that was not worth a fraction of the New or Lower Gauley at 6 - 12,000 cubic He sponsored a bill in 1978 establishing the The racism, arrogance and cruelty value of the Hawks Nest electrical com- feet per second.” New River Gorge as a national park. In was so astonishing, even in the 1930s, plex. And the tunnel itself, as a point of Proctor has been watching the river 1988, he sponsored a bill to make the Gauley a National Recreation area. And in recent that a full scale Congressional investiga- fact, was never worth the lives it cost. every day for decades. “There’s nothing any tion was set in motion. different than what we have seen in past 30 years he has been honored with the National Parks Conservation Association award. The investigation uncovered heart------years,” he said. “Do we see turbidity (after breaking stories about whole families rain)? You bet. I know they’ve been min- The problem, as always, is with the wiped out by silicosis, wives having to file For more information: ing. But a logging job can probably cause as details. It is possible that a semi-protected suits just to get their husband’s bodies, Hawks Nest Tunnel: An Unabridged much of a problem, and they are probably arrangement will be proposed. But if the and parents searching the Hawks Nest History, by Patricia Spangler. Available not as regulated as a mining company.” protection does not slow or stop the surface workers camps for their missing sons. for $22.95 (pluse $5 shipping) from the Like many others who make their liv- mining, thousands of acres of Gauley The investigation also uncovered West Virginia Book Co. http://www. ing taking rafters onto whitewater, Proctor Mountain will be leveled, and the runoff a horrific pattern of secret cemeteries, wvbookco.com/ 125 Central Avenue, sympathizes with environmental concerns. and toxic waste problems could affect subversion of the law and threats to Watch them online at Charleston WV 25302 “I understand that Ansted is concerned tourism in the end. witnesses by Union Carbide and its iLoveMountains.org Martin Cherniak, The Hawk’s Nest about coal trucks and traffic,” he said. That is not the future that Hobbs, contractors. Incident, Yale University press, 1987. “And it’s crazy to say there’s not some sort Crist, and other residents are hoping for. For more information or to take action, contact Benji Burrell It concluded that the tunnel project [email protected], 828-262-1500

Su m m e r , 2008 Su m m e r , 2008 Pa g e 16 Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 17 A High Water Year creating in the fall what might be average high speed, and not all rafts make it back fully eject guide and crew if they are left natural spring flows—is the pinnacle of down right-side-up. or right of the subtle correct line. Continued from previous page the West Virginia whitewater season. The feeling of a good run at the sec- After that first summer of learning By Tom Cormons one of life’s greatest plea- would take turns guiding, with The Upper Gauley section, beginning ond drop of Lost Paddle Rapid (where through immersion, I was able to both sures. While the guide’s no fully trained guide aboard. embark on an eight week cross-country right below the dam, offers the biggest a friend actually lost his battle, and kayak and raft guide the Upper Gauley I made the best move of my life in lifestyle would allow me We’d accompany a commercial camping and climbing trip, and we’ve action. Its five Class V rapids give pause was forced to hike out, the first time I a few times that first season, and I was the spring of 1997. With my ’84 Firebird to experience climbing in trip of at least several other been together ever since. Years after that to even the most experienced guides, and kayaked the stretch) is unforgettable. hooked. I would be back to guide full- stuffed with most of the gear I’d use to places all over the country, rafts, whose guides would be first season, I proposed to her on a cliff any complacency in many of the countless The raft stands up against, and crashes time for the next three seasons. live outside until October, I left Charlot- the Gorge remains one of ready to help if we got into overlooking the Gorge. This June, we smaller rapids can be very dangerous. It through, the giant wave at the lip of the Heather and I return to the Gorge tesville, headed west. I’d made this trip my favorite climbing areas. serious trouble. We did a fair spent a week’s vacation camping there demands a lot of energy, focus, and hard drop, before going over the drop, angling area—a four-hour drive from our home to West Virginia’s New River Gorge many The thousands of routes on amount of whitewater swim- with our four month old daughter. work, but this is amply rewarded with the steeply downward, only to crash through in Charlottesville—whenever we can, times before, but always knowing that I high-quality rock offer a ming that spring, but managed The New River usually mellows out though the demands of work and family would have to return to school after a lifetime’s worth of climb- to avoid the very serious haz- in mid-summer, when the water level Generally considered second only to the Grand Canyon sometimes make us think wistfully of weekend of rock climbing or whitewater ing and some of the best ards of undercut rocks. I seized drops. It is still a serious Class IV run, the days when we lived there. Its rivers training. Now I’d graduated from UVA variety anywhere. every opportunity to be on the but this is when guides start dreaming for the quality and intensity of its commercially runnable and rocks, forests and creeks, will always and my only commitment was to work about the Gauley. A smaller river, the I was also immedi- river, and I learned fast. whitewater in this country, the Gauley holds a very special occupy a central place in our hearts, and as a whitewater raft guide and climbing ately enthralled by the The thrill of engaging the Gauley drops steeply through a rugged I imagine us climbing and boating there instructor at the Gorge. I would camp in context—the continuous dynamic whitewater environ- and more remote canyon. place in the heart of every boater I know who runs it. for the rest of our lives. a tent community of guides on the outfit- Generally considered second only mountains and hollows; ment, and the pleasure of un------ter’s property and be paid by the trip for the clear, steep creeks; the derstanding it, led me to buy to the Grand Canyon for the quality and guiding. That first season, I would fall in forests so lush that I was my first kayak that season. I intensity of its commercially runnable unparalleled fun it offers—which, along another large wave before the crew is Tom Cormons is the Virginia Campaign love with the New and Gauley Rivers— reminded of Brazil or the had taught myself the Eskimo whitewater in this country, the Gauley with the beauty of the craggy canyon, is forced to regain composure to help the Coordinator for Appalachian Voices. Tom and with the woman who would become Pacific Northwest; the great roll the summer before on a holds a very special place in the heart what makes the Gauley famous. guide paddle the boat around “Six-Pack earned his law degree with a concentration in Public Interest Law and Policy at UCLA my wife. river, viewed from the top I spoke with an outfitter and learned that relatively flat stretch of river, of every boater I know who runs it. It is It is humbling to attempt to do the Rock.” If a guide pins his raft on Six-Pack, and is a member of the Virginia State Bar. No place could have better exempli- of a climb, roaring through rapids below. it would be possible to live at the Gorge so I had a small head start. much steeper, narrower, and more tech- Gauley justice in words. At Pillow Rock he owes each of the other guides on the He lives in Charlottesville with his wife, fied the beauty and possibility of the I’ll never forget the first time I slept out in and support myself as a guide, I almost Another advantage was that I found nical than the New, but also boasts big rapid, the river charges through a con- trip a six-pack, but this will be the least Heather, and daughter, Brooke, and spends world awaiting me beyond college. My the open on the rim of the Gorge. From couldn’t believe my luck. I’d been a myself in a whitewater culture. Guides waves and hydraulics. Gauley season— striction aimed at a big boulder and piles of his concerns. any free time he can find climbing, hiking, adventures there had started on the bands there, the ribbon of fog sitting just above serious student in college, and thinking lived, breathed and—a generally loqua- when, four days a week in September up on the rock in a huge version of what The Upper Gauley’s final Class V, running rivers, or playing music. of gorgeous sandstone cliffs lining the rim the water at dawn looked like a white of the freedom and joy of living outside cious bunch—talked whitewater con- and October, water stored all summer is technically known as a “rock pillow.” Sweet’s Falls, is a 14-foot waterfall that of the Gorge, far above the river, where river that grew as it gradually rose nearly and focusing on climbing all season was stantly. Whereas it was harder to find behind the Summersville Dam is released, Rafts and kayaks ride up on the pillow at can be run very gracefully, but can force- I’d been introduced to rock climbing in a thousand feet to spill over the cliff top, overwhelming. I had to do it. climbing partners among my peers than college. I had an immediate affinity for enveloping our band of climbers as we I hadn’t had much experience with I’d expected, it was impossible not to the rock; climbing came naturally and I cooked our breakfast. whitewater at that point, so I had asked find friends itching to go paddling, so I immediately knew that, for me, it was When, in my last semester of college, the outfitter about my prospects for work was soon kayaking on most of my days as a climbing guide. The company’s off. In the evenings, after a long day climbing program was growing, so they working on the river, we’d run it again were happy to take me on. There was, for fun. I came to love kayaking and raft however, one caveat: I would also have guiding equally. I loved the challenge of to train to guide on the river. I agreed, gracefully handling a large, heavy craft thinking vaguely that the whitewater in whitewater, and the way a raft must training sounded like fun, but I didn’t crash through waves and hydraulics. In have an inkling then of how immersed a kayak, one sits just below the water’s in whitewater I would become! surface, and, therefore, right in the midst It was a high-water year and the of the river’s features. This, combined river’s power was awesome. The New is with less momentum and a much more famous for its big water in the spring— streamlined design than a raft, lets one the gigantic waves and hydraulics that feel intimately connected to the river. rafts and kayaks must contend with. I’d Around the middle of the summer, I never been in a whitewater raft before struck up a friendship with a guide from that spring. On my first trip, the river— my training class named Heather Donald- bucking, spinning, flooding, and threat- son. Immediately after college, she had ening to capsize the 14-foot boat—seemed taken a two-year associate position at an like chaos, but I was about to begin the economic consulting firm in D.C. At the never-ending process of learning to know end of her stint there, she had watched the river and intimately understand its colleagues go off to graduate school and dynamics. lucrative careers, but she was compelled I was one of about six committed raft to do something different. Having rafted guide trainees that year. with her father growing up, she was At first, an experienced guide would drawn to the river. guide the boat through all the rapids. Heather and I had a wonderful time As we trainees learned more, we would together that season, basking in the joy take turns guiding, sitting beside the of each other’s company and of living trainer who—partly in the interest of self- outside. We were also starting to discover preservation—would always be ready to the depth of our shared values. Immedi- take over the steering. ately after the season ended, we would The next step was running the river in “turkey boats”—rafts of trainees who Continued on next page

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Benefits of a Coal River The long term cost of Mountain wind farm: Editorials · Create Jobs – 200 local employment opportunities during Energy by and for the people construction, and 50 permanent jobs Public opinion polls are showing a serious problem with the during the life of the wind farm. It coal vs. wind debate over our future sources of energy: the American people takes only 27 years for a wind farm strongly agree on solutions. power power to provide a greater number of one- Well over 80 percent of Americans consistently agree on year jobs than the four surface mines renewable energy and conservation. In poll after poll, people combined. Cliffside Power Plant, NC Coal River MTN Wind Farm strongly approve of the idea of building a sustainable future for their children. They also want America to lead in the kinds of re- · Create Energy – Provide 440MW newable energy technologies that will make this a better world. Nameplate Capacity 800 MW (1) 440 MW (2) or enough energy for 105,000 homes A majority favor conservation, solar, wind, hydro, and bio- – indefinitely, as well as a sustained Capacity Factor 85% (3) 30% (2) fuels. But most Americans dont want new coal or nuclear power tax income that could be used for the Annual Operation plants. (3) (4) construction of new schools for the and Maintenance $49 million $15 million Whatís the problem? In a democracy, when the public strongly county. agrees on something, public servants should be scrambling to Generation 6.0 Million MWh/year (3) 1.2 Million MWh/year (4) make it so. (5) (5) · Create Economic Potential Homes Powered 540,000 105,000 And yet, the utility industry and the government have man- – Allow for concurrent uses of the (1) (4) aged to invert their priorities. Coal and nuclear power dominate Cost to Build $1.8 billion $720 million mountain including harvesting of wild their plans for our future. There are almost no serious efforts (6) ginseng and valuable forest plants, Annual cost of coal $364 million per year $0 at conservation, and only tiny efforts focused on solar wind or sustainable forestry, and mountain hydro. tourism, as Coal River Mountain What does this enormous gap show? Is it a reflection on the is one of West Virginia’s finest Levelized Cost state of our democracy, or the lack of leadership in government, Letters to the editor (3) (4) mountains. of Electricity 12.6¢ per kilowatt hour 9.4¢per kilowatt hour or the lack of innovation in industry, or the potential force behind a consumer revolution? Appalachian Voice welcomes letters to the editor · Preserve Heritage – Coal Our vote goes to all of the above, but one thing stands out. and comments on our website. We run as many River Mountain has provided for the drilling ceases. This includes reseeding local The American people will insist on the right choice. letters as possible, space permitting. Write to people of the Coal River Valley for grasses as well as native trees to integrate with Pity the fools who try to stand in the way. [email protected]. Wind farm campaign for Coal River Mountain generations. A mountaintop removal the landscape. mine would block residents from Sincerely esidents of West Virginia’s Coal – wind power. This is a unique in the last few years; the mountain and destroy the lands Natural Gas is Responsible Charles B. Jones Jr. RRiver Valley have launched an opportunity to move our nation and - The price of Central Appalachian ancestors once lived on, as well as Knoxville TN exciting new campaign to bring a West Virginia toward the production coal is up more than 500% since the family cemeteries they rest in. Winds of change on Coal River Dear Appalachian Voices, wind farm to Coal River Mountain. of clean energy, and to preserve our 2000; As this issue of Appalachian Voice goes to press, Co-op Amer- With reference to your Spring 2008 Ap- Coal River Mountain is one of nation’s mountains for generations - Congress is poised to act on · Protect the Land and ica has announced that this year’s Building Economic Alternatives palachian Voice on natural gas drilling – As a the last mountains left intact in the to come. climate change legislation that would Kudos from Nashville Community – More than 500,000 Award will go to the Coal River Mountain Wind Project. “clean fuel” natural gas is reasonably available beautiful Coal River Valley of West But the best part of the wind project drive the cost of coal power even Dear Appalachian Voices, acres in West Virginia alone have The award recognizes the project’s “determination to harness in this country. Coal seam gas extraction has Virginia. However, Massey Energy is that it could generate electricity at a higher; can we afford not to invest in Thank you for posting your website. At has plans to mine 6600 acres of the lower cost than a new coal-fired power clean and renewable energy? been destroyed by surface mining. economic action for a better world -- using the jobs created by garnered increased attention due to its avail- 82+ I read Appalachian Voices and marvel at mountain - almost 10 square miles of plant such as Duke Energy’s proposal Please visit www.CoalRiverWind. Mountaintop Removal mining buries a renewable energy project to save a mountain ecosystem and ability; but it is NOT a new energy source. In what would be the tallest peaks ever for the Cliffside power station in North org for more information and to get and poisons drinking water, increases mountain communities.” southern Appalachia, Energen (a large regional the diversified and informative articles in each to be mined in West Virginia. Carolina. Considering that: involved. And don’t forget to sign flooding, damages homes and The award also highlights the difference between an emerging natural gas distributor and driller) has done issue. Fortunately, there is an alternative - The cost of building coal-fired the petition and tell your friends to vision of a strong, healthy Appalachian economy and the devasta- personal property, and devastates extensive drilling in the Alabama region for For someone who strongly believes in to mountaintop removal mining power plants has more than doubled do the same. tion that the coal and oil industries would impose. wildlife habitat. at least 20 years. There is a strong movement history/ heritage /legacy, I congratulate your Given fuel prices at the pump and our deer-in-the-headlights in this direction as it is an available resource. efforts! federal energy policy, its clear that we need to lift our visions and Energy prices have reached levels that make Keep up your wonderful project! God bless our voices once again. It’s clear we need to create an energy policy our nation and you. as if people and the future mattered. this resource more exploitable On the positive Nick Christodoulou We’re not on unfamiliar ground. This happened in WWII , side is that technology has become increasingly Nashville TN when American soldiers were so frequently called on to act in- effective in drilling. Now this technology needs dependently. It happened in the Civil Rights movement, when to be applied to limiting damages. 1. “Duke Energy Carolinas’ Advanced Clean Coal Cliff- gies on the Cost of Electricity from Gasification- RPS%20Assumptions%20v2.doc). Based on Wind 6. Based on the spot market price ($140 per short ton) Note: Mr. Christodoulou grew up in Welch, WV side Unit 6 Cost Estimate Report, June 29, 2007” NC based Power Generation Platforms.” Numbers were Busbar Levelized Costs by Zone model (Table B) and Btu content of Central Appalachia Coal (Big San- Southerners longed for a future without hate. There is without question a need to limit Utilities Commission Docket No. E-7, Sub 790 derived from parameters in the “SCPC” Baseline using a base capital cost of $1,635 /kW installed dy/Kanawha 12,500 Btu,1.2 lbSO2/mmBtu) from the And it is happening now, as we begin to envision a future for environmental damage. However, drilling is and has written extensively about the Appalachia of power system example in the LCOE model (Table http://www.duke-energy.com/pdfs/Cliffside_-_ capacity. Model inputs adjusted based on the Coal EIA weekly coal report for the week of August 22nd, our children and grandchildren that doesnt depend on the ruth- not as invasive as mining activities as it has a his youth. He was interviewed about his submarine June_2007_NCUC_Cost_Estimate_Update.pdf. 1, page 4) with adjustments made for stated capac- River Wind Project fact sheet (reference 2). 2008. Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/ service in World War II on usmilitaryhistory.com ity and current cost figures for the Duke Cliffside page/coalnews/coalmar.html. Total coal consump- less and immoral devastation of God’s creation. more constrained footprint. The effort should 2. Coal River Wind Fact Sheet - accessed 20 August, 5. Based on average US residential customer consump- proposal. tion was determined from the DOE/NETL model (see The nation is well served by efforts like the Coal River Wind podcasts. Look for the podcast episode “The Cook 2008 (http://www.coalriverwind.org/wp-content/up- tion of 920 kWH/month). Source: EIA/DOE Electric be placed on assuring that property owner 4. Source: CPUC GHG Model Documentation: New reference 3) using a Btu content of 12,500 Btu/lb and Project. It has shown that independence of thought and spirit is loads/2008/07/crm_factsheet.pdf) Sales, Revenue, and Price, 2006. http://www.eia. rights are respected and that environmental and the Scabbardfish.” Wind Generation Resource, Cost, and Performance a transportation cost of 25% above minemouth price 3. Based on DOE/NETL-402/061308, June, 2008, “The doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/esr/esr_sum.html THE renewable resource in America. Assumptions (www.ethree.com/GHG/10%20 (assumption for eastern coal - see reference 3). measures and clean-up are maintained after Impact of Advanced Syngas Conversion Technolo-

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Pa g e 20 Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 21 For our members For our members

advisory for Watauga Lake for large- Appalachian Voices Launches Upper Watauga mouth bass and channel catfish due to high levels of mercury. Both the EPA “The law of this nation says that the water The Upper Watauga Riv- for the purposes of 1) expand- polluters and government in appropri- and the FDA have established a fish er just got a new friend. ing the number of people who ate circumstances. Through the support flesh limit of .3 parts per million for of this country belongs to the people. Donna Marie Lisenby, advocate for healthy rivers; 2) and vision of Appalachian Voices and methylmercury, mercury’s most toxic an award-winning envi- raising public awareness of River its members, Lisenby will protect the form. Eating fish with methylmercury Riverkeepers protect the people.” ronmental advocate, began issues and; 3) providing training public’s water from polluters. levels higher than .3 ppm is considered serving on the staff of Ap- for citizen activists. One of the many public services potentially detrimental to the health of -- Donna Lisenby, as quoted palachian Voices as the first Lisenby will also review a Riverkeeper provides is to identify humans, particularly children. At one in the High Country Press Upper Watauga Riverkeeper development activities, facilities and respond to citizen complaints so sampling site in the Roan Creek embay- Photo by Michael Joslin this June. that discharge waste- consistently and diligently that the ment of Watauga Lake, samples of 15 Lisenby will be a full-time water and any other Riverkeeper becomes recognized by the largemouth bass contained an average public advocate for the entire watershed potential threat to water community as the foremost investigator of .59 ppm of methylmercury. mercury as they feed, and then they Environmental Protec- including the Watauga River, the Elk quality and quantity of water pollution problems. If you ob- That is almost double the safe are eaten by larger and larger animals, tion Agency estimates River, Roan Creek and Watauga Lake. then actively seek solu- serve water pollution anywhere in the level. with the mercury accumulating at each that 410,000 babies born Her job with Appalachian Voices is tions while facilitating North Carolina or Tennessee portions The high level of contamination seems step; this is called bioaccumulation. Fish each year in the U.S. to serve as the leading advocate for the public education about of the Watauga Lake watershed, please odd for such a pristine mountain lake, that are higher in the food chain, such have unsafe levels of health of the Watauga River watershed as the representative of the public’s river issues. It is impor- call our toll-free pollution hotline at located far from pollution sources and as largemouth bass have much higher mercury. Based on Cen- and provide a visible presence on the interest in clean water and healthy tant for a Riverkeeper to establish and 1-877-277-8642. bordered by the Cherokee National Forest, mercury concentrations than fish that ters for Disease Control data, the North Award winning river as well as its tributaries. fisheries by providing testimony, expert maintain relationships with local and several state parks and wildlife manage- are lower on the food chain. Organic Carolina Department of Health and Hu- In effect, she will speak for the opinion and/or presentations at city, state elected and appointed officials, River Guardian Mercury pollution ment areas. Yet the U.S. has 1,100 coal-fired mercury concentrations can be more man Services recently estimated that “at river, its problems and potential solu- county, state and federal proceedings especially local officials engaged in For the past 10 years, Lisenby served Is the first concern power plants that release more than 48 tons than 1,000 times greater in the fish than least 13,677 children per year” are born tions while ensuring enforcement and and meetings. planning, zoning, enforcement, and at the helm of the Catawba Riverkeeper of mercury into the air every year, account- in the surrounding water. Humans be- in NC with blood mercury levels that compliance with environmental laws. The Riverkeeper is responsible for other areas directly related to the health Dealing with mercury from coal Program and was recognized as “Char- ing for more than 40 percent of airborne come exposed when they eat fish that place them at risk for lifelong learning She will work as investigator, scientist, organizing a diverse constituency of and well being of the river. In addition fired power plants is one of the most im- lotte’s Best Advocate” by Charlotte mercury emissions in the nation. are contaminated with mercury. disabilities, fine motor and attention lawyer, and advocate, protecting the people in the upper Watauga River to partnership approaches, if necessary portant issues on the Watauga River. Magazine in May, 2000. She was also Coal-fired electric power plants are High levels of mercury in devel- deficits, and lowered IQ. public’s right to clean water and healthy drainage, including water drinkers, to protect the public’s right to clean In 2007, the Tennessee Department recognized as a “1999 Guardian of the the largest source of anthropogenic, or oping fetuses and young children can Just 1/70th of a teaspoon of mer- fisheries. swimmers, fishers, boaters, property water, a Riverkeeper will use litigation of Environment and Conservation Environment” by The Charlotte Ob- human-caused, mercury air emissions in irrevocably effect their neurological cury can contaminate a 25-acre lake. All Waterkeepers worldwide serve owners, farmers and business owners and administrative challenges against (TDEC) issued a fish consumption server, In addition, she was selected as the United States. Mercury is deposited development leading to development Partial testing of less than 60% of North a recipient of the Charlotte Coalition’s onto the ground or directly into water- delays and learning disabilities. Babies Carolina waters by the Department of “Blue Thumb” award. bodies as fall out from the air emissions are exposed to mercury from their moth- Environment and Natural Resources The Catawba Riverkeeper Program of coal-fired power plants. It can be ers’ blood in the womb, as well as from determined that 1000 miles of North is also the only environmental organiza- washed from the land and carried to breast milk. Mercury poisoning can also Carolina rivers plus an additional 29,522 tion to receive three Best of Charlotte rivers, streams, and lakes by stormwater. cause lung, kidney, heart, and immune acres of freshwater lakes, reservoirs and Awards for “Best Effort to Improve the When elemental mercury lands in water, system damage. An estimated eight per- impoundments are impaired for mer- Environment” in 1999, 2000 and 2004. it is transformed to methylmercury, the cent of women of childbearing age have cury. Mercury impaired more acres of Other awards include the Mountain most toxic form of mercury, by microor- unsafe levels of mercury and the leading water in North Carolina lakes than any Island Lake Marine Commission’s Blue ganisms found in water and sediment. mercury researcher at the United States other source including Chlorophyll a, Fin Award for 2003, the Lake James Task Small aquatic organisms consume turbidity, high pH, dioxin, nutrients, low Force Award for Outstanding and Distin- pH and aquatic weeds. guished Service in 2004, and the 2005 J. The contamination of Watauga H. “Mac” McSwain Community Service Lake and the human health impacts of Award for exemplary community service mercury led the Watauga Riverkeeper to the Lake Wateree Community. to legally challenge the construction of In 2005, Ms. Lisenby was elected by We encourage you to patronize members of the Buisness League. a new coal fired power plant at Cliffside, her fellow Waterkeepers to serve as a To become a business member please visit NC by Duke Energy. Adding more coal board member of Waterkeeper Alliance. www.AppalachianVoices.org or call us toll free at 877-APP-VOICE fired power plants not only pollutes the The Waterkeeper Alliance is the in- air, destroys the Appalachian mountains ternational organization led by Robert F. New and Renewing Business League Members through the devastating practice of Kennedy, Jr. There are currently 177 lo- June 2008-August 2008 mountain top removal and contributes cal Waterkeeper Programs in the United to global warming but it also poisons Black Mountain Books PPALACHIANLiberty Bicycles Solar OICESAge Press States, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Australia, Black Mountain, NC Asheville, NC Peterstown, WV waterways with the toxic heavy metal Africa, India, China, Europe and Russia. mercury. Coal fired power plants are Blue Smoke Coffee M-Prints Stick Boy Bread Company Waterkeeper Alliance and its member or- a quadruple harm to the environment. Roasting Co. Boone, NC Boone, NC ganizations around the globe spend each They must be stopped and after only Rome, GA day protecting the waterways upon which Medicine Man Craft Shop Sundance Mountain two months on the job, the Watauga Cherokee, NC V Doe Ridge Pottery A Lands all living beings depend. The Alliance ap- Riverkeeper is doing her part to protect Boone, NC Banner Elk, NC proves new Waterkeeper programs and Pepper’s Restaurant the Watauga River and its watershed Boone, NC licenses the use of the Waterkeeper names. Dulaney Hollow at Old The Dripolater from pollution. Rag Mountain B & B Coffeehouse The Waterkeeper program names, such Purple Onion Appalachian Voice will be keeping Madison, VA Black Mountain, NC as “Riverkeeper,” “Lakekeeper,” “Bay- Saluda, NC track of the Upper Watagua efforts in keeper,” “Coastkeeper” and others, are Enter the Earth future issues, especially sedimentation, Asheville, NC Rosetta’s Kitchen synonymous with effective citizen action. Asheville, NC which another important problem.

Su m m e r , 2008 Su m m e r , 2008 Pa g e 22 Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Ap p a l a c h i a n Vo i c e Pa g e 23 Naturalists Notebook The only known mountain Cougars still lions still residing in the on a variety of other proj- Appalachian Mountains are fascinate ects, but he has voluntarily in special nature preserves, dedicated the last 30 of his such as this beautiful Appalachian life to verifying the status cougar living at Grandfa- naturalists and ensuring the survival ther Mountain’s Nature of the cougar. Preserve. Photo courtesy of Grandfather Mountain By Noa Davidai That commitment brings Linzey to various lectures, Pop quiz: Which mammal has the speaking on the “Current we need to educate the most widespread distribution in the Status of Mountain Lions in public, Linsey says. “We Western Hemisphere? No, it’s not the the Great Smoky Mountains don’t want more people rat, the squirrel, or even the deer. It National Park.” shooting them and kill- is us, ladies and gentleman—human ing them off just because beings. But this was not always, or Introducing – the cougar they’re afraid of them, naturally, the case. In the not-so-distant so we have to teach the past, the mammal with the most ex- Imagine your kitty at public how to live with tensive natural range in the Americas home (or the one on the is, however, no evidence of a breeding population. Claims of cougar sightings them just like we live with black bears was—a large cat. street). Multiply its size by about 10. and grizzly bears and grey wolves out This is no ordinary cat. It is a cat of Now your tabby is about 125-150 lbs. are constantly streaming in, but few have actually seen this ghost-like cat. west, and everybody seems to be get- mystery. A creature often surrounded Paint its fur a light tan color. Elongate ting along pretty well.” by fear and misunderstanding. And its tail so that it drags down with a Usually, they turn out to be a short- no wonder. We cannot even agree on curved tip that just scrapes the ground. tailed, tufty-cheeked bobcat or even a its name. Sometimes called “the Cat of Now paint that tip black, and you’ve house cat. One Color”, its many aliases include: got yourself a cougar, a beautiful and Some people claim they saw a large puma, panther, mountain lion, cougar, majestic cougar. black panther, but no black cougar as well as catamount (the mascot of This cougar is a shy and solitary exists in natural history records any- Western Carolina University). animal, needs large ranges and prefers where in the world, says Linzey. Is this The cougar (the name preferred by to remain elusive, . Linzey says. It even fascination with seeing cougars born experts) is the largest of the small cats. limits interactions with its own kind out of longing or fear? Do we want It is classified as a small cat because it to an occasional “booty call” with the the cougar back, or would we rather it purrs like a housecat instead of roar- opposite sex. A mother will have 2-4 stayed gone? ing like a lion. Yet this once-common kittens that remain with her until they Though there is no current ef- neighbor of ours is now practically are 1-2 years old. And though Mama’s fort to reintroduce an eastern cougar eliminated from the Appalachians. Its fur is smooth and patternless, baby population, there is discussion of this mystique is such that locals and visitors cougars are spotted until about the time possibility. they leave Mama. alike constantly claim to have seen one, Return of the cougar much like a ghost in the attic. Though the cougar was once widely Should the fate of this cat be of any distributed in the Americas, the majori- Some would say that the cougar concern to those of us living beside ty of the current cougar populations are naturally belongs in the Appalachians these beautiful mountains? out West, with a small representation in and is only gone because we have de- Through most of his career, biologist Nova Scotia and Florida. Many of these stroyed its habitat and hunted it to near and naturalist Donald Linzey has been populations are still heavily hunted. extinction. But, is the cougar a danger haunted by the intrigue of the cougar. In Between 1907 and 1970, around 70,000 to humans? Linzey and other experts 1963, as a young doctoral student from cougars were killed in the United States, tell us that encounters with cougars are Cornell, Linzey discovered the marvels . Linzey reports. It was once believed rare due to their shy and solitary nature. of the Great Smoky Mountains National that there are many different kinds of On top of that, the risk of attack is quite Park as he conducted research there on cougars, and therefore distinct popu- low. For example, Yosemite National the flying squirrel. Subsequently he lations in various areas of the United Park, home to a healthy population of became a park naturalist, then principal States. But a recent DNA study by . cougars, has millions of visitors a year. investigator for endangered species Melanie Culver at the University of The number of cougar attacks in the research in the southern Appalachians Arizona has shown that worldwide, park’s history – none. and a biology professor at Wytheville there are only six different species of If the risk to humans is almost Community College in Virginia. He cougars, and only one of those is found negligible, would the cougar contrib- has stayed close to the Smokies both in in North America. ute to our Appalachian ecosystem? location and affection. The cougar is so notorious and The cougar is a top predator, feeding In 1978, Linzey organized a con- alluring that experts such as Linzey primarily on deer. It therefore plays ference on the Endangered Species work round the clock to verify reported an integral part in balancing wildlife of Virginia, the first one of its kind sightings of the cat. To date, Linzey populations. We certainly see that in a in the state. It was at this conference possesses the only two known pho- cougar-less eastern United States, deer that his devotion to the cougar arose. tographs of cougars in the Smokies, populations are exploding and causing Linzey’s research funding has focused though he feels that there have been many problems, Linzey says. several other credible sightings. There To help the mountain lion survive,

Su m m e r , 2008 Su m m e r , 2008 Pa g e 24 App a l a c h i a n Vo i c e

Non-Profit APPALACHIAN VOICE Organization 191 Howard Street US Postage Paid Boone, NC 28607 Permit No. 294 www.appalachianvoices.org Boone, NC

Spectators watch a raft run Pillow rapid on the Gauley River. (Photo by Jeff Macklin) From the Heart, for the Mountains The Appalachian Mountains are among the most beautiful places on earth. They are our home, our heritage, and our way of life. They are our children’s inheritance. But their future cannot be taken for granted. Today, the Appalachian Mountains suffer from the worst air quality, the most unsustainable logging, and the most irresponsible mining in the nation. Every day, more of our streams, forests and mountains are degraded and lost forever.

You can help: Clip & mail to: Appalachian Voices, 191 Howard Street, Boone, NC 28607 Through donating money, time or talent, Appalachian Voices’ Phone: (828)262-1500 Fax: (828) 262-1540 www.AppalachianVoices.org members provide critical support to help reduce air pollution, Name______protect the health of our forests and end mountaintop removal Address______mining. Join us in protecting and restoring our irreplaceable City______State______Zip______Appalachian heritage. Become a member of Appalachian Voices. Phone______e-mail______

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Su m m e r , 2008