Why should you care about the Rocky Fork
Watershed?
Following
are facts pertaining to the importance of Rocky Fork for its ecological,
scenic, recreational, and historical value if preserved as an intact natural
area, much as it has been since the arrival of white settlers to the upper
Nolichucky River Valley over 200 years ago.
Critical
watershed
- Encompassing
approximately 6,000 acres in Unicoi County and 4,000 in Greene County, the
streams of Rocky Fork comprise a highly important segment of the greater Upper
Nolichucky River Watershed, which is vital to residents of Unicoi, Washington,
and Greene Counties.
The
Threat:
At least one member of the group of developers interested in purchasing
Rocky Fork is encountering public outcry and community-wide protest against his
present development in another community not far from RF. There, he wishes to begin pumping 300,000 gallons of treated
sewage per day into a beloved trout stream to serve a 900 unit development he is
constructing in the area. A similar
fate will befall Rocky Fork Creek should he or others gain the opportunity to
develop the watershed.
Outstanding
scenic area
- Heading
north (officially west) on I-26 from western North Carolina into northeastern
Tennessee, the entire mountain vista to the northwest for ten miles is comprised
of Rocky Fork lands. This view,
since the opening of I-26, has become a much talked about feature identifying
Unicoi County and the scenic gateway to northeastern Tennessee.
The
Threat:
The stunning Rocky Fork vista that characterizes Unicoi County and NE
Tennessee upon entering the state from North Carolina via I-26 will be ruined by
the removal of forested areas and construction of ridge-top structures and
roads. Unicoi County currently has
no ridge laws to protect from this threat.
Highly
diverse and important wildlife habitat
- Rocky Fork is part of
TWRA’s Cherokee Wildlife Management Area system, its 10,000 acres forming a
critical component of the Unicoi Bear Reserve.
Rocky Fork Creek has long been recognized as a State Blue Ribbon Trout
Stream, its headwaters and tributaries providing excellent habitat for native
(and potentially threatened) Appalachian brook trout, as well as wild rainbows.
Wild turkey, deer, grouse, and other game species are quite abundant, and
nesting peregrine falcons have been observed in the area’s more remote
reaches.
The
Threat:
If developed for a private gated residential community, Rocky Fork’s
10,000 acres would be immediately removed from its protected status within the
Unicoi Bear Reserve, which has greatly contributed to the present outstanding
health and numbers within the region’s bear population.
Perhaps most important of all is the threat of potential destruction of
miles of critical Appalachian brook trout habitat. Less than 5% of this species’ original habitat now exists
due largely to overdevelopment of sensitive watersheds such as Rocky Fork.
Appalachian
Trail view-shed -
Over 2,000 acres of the area along its southern boundary comprise
an exceptional and vital view-shed for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as
it crosses the tract along its high TN-NC border.
The
Threat:
As a unit of the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail is a vital
recreational and tourism resource for the communities through which it passes.
Permanent degradation of this resource and its relevant value occurs when
the view-shed of the trail is damaged by undesirable development.
Adjacent
public wildlands
- Virtually surrounding
Rocky Fork are thousands of acres of public lands, including the adjacent
8,000-acre Sampson Mountain Wilderness within Tennessee’s Cherokee National
Forest and nearby Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.
The
Threat:
For generations, Rocky Fork has provided public access for hunting,
fishing and other traditional outdoor activities.
As an integral access point and component of a greater area of public
lands, its commercial and residential development would permanently eliminate
its exceptionally high value to the greater public for these pursuits.
Historical
significance
- Among
other historical aspects of Rocky Fork, one of the famous frontier battles
between natives and whites took place at the confluence of Flint and Rocky Fork
Creeks, where future Tennessee Governor, John Sevier, led his troops against a
large band of Creeks and Cherokees, many of whom found their final resting place
there.
The
Threat:
The exact site where this historic event occurred will be lost forever if
Rocky Fork falls victim to resort or residential development.