On Nov 19, 2009 Landon Medley wrote

Dear Mr. Schroeder,

I appreciate your interest and attention to this serious matter of pending surface coal mining in the lands suitable Rock Creek Watershed. SOCM has been dealing with this issue for three years. I am attaching some related information to your question. This is an early heads-up. I any help to stop the re-opening of the Rock Creek LUMP to surface coal mining.

It is our understanding that Highlands Land Company has completed it core drilling and we are awaiting the test results in about 30 to 60 days. As a member of CTC, you must have known my friend Don Todd. He was a founding member of SOCM. SOCM’s members like Don gave everything they had for such LUMP designation as the Rock Creek watershed. The Rock Creek LUMP was the very first designated LUMP east of the Mississippi and the first in Tennessee. If Rock Creek LUMP is re-open then it places the other three designated LUMPs areas in danger too; Fern Lake, Frozen Head and Fall Creek Falls. I wish to make this important  point to CTC that in 2006 Benchmark Resources Corporation had a lawsuit over mining in the southern portion (Hamilton County) of the Rock Creek watershed. Once the upper watershed is open then companies like Benchmark will be back.

Hall Creek and Suzanne Branch are now declared Tier 2 streams in the watershed. I hope you remember the water quality of this area 22 year ago. We only have to look a McGill Creek watershed to see the impact of surface coal mining on Walden Ridge. Rock Creek is considered as the last remaining quality water stream on Walden Ridge. This was what Don and other SOCM members who live in Bledsoe County work to save. The Horn Creek’s Laurel Dace is being considered for endangered species designation by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Cumberland Trail is in the early development stages as a cornerstone of the Tennessee State Park system.

There are key economic concerns as well. The greater Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s recreational industry will be impacted if the Rock Creek waters are lost. Hikers, campers, and backpackers who provide revenue to the recreational industries and jobs in the region will be impacted by the lost tourism as well. The Backpacker Magazine runs articles about Rock Creek watershed and invites people to visit Chattanooga to enjoy the trail and scenic beauty of Hamilton County. There has not been any coal mining in the Rock Creek watershed for 22 years. It has not hurt the coal mining industry in Tennessee. The 1987 designation has resulted in improvement of the water quality for northern Hamilton County. These concerns are key points in protecting the Rock Creek LUMP designation and its Cumberland Trail section from surface coal mining and impacting the related recreational industry and jobs for the region. Why wait in line to get into the Smokies when you can walk the Cumberland Trail.

I appreciate any help to get this message out to others.. ”do not take this issue lightly, the wolf is at the door”. The Governor and other political leaders should take an old “Alamo” stand against re-opening the Rock Creek Watershed LUMP.

Ann League is the contact person at the SOCM Lake City Office 865-426-9455.

Sincerely,
Landon Medley