Protecting Rock Creek

An effort to mine coal in the Rock Creek watershed is underway
which has potential to destroy Rock Creek water quality.
This blog will document our attempt to protect
the environment in Rock Creek Gorge.

On Nov 20, 2009 Warren Devine wrote

Jim:

Regarding Big Possum Creek, some observations you already know but didn't have room to state below: E Branch Blanchard Creek drains a mined area and pollutes everything downstream. At its junction with W Branch Blanchard Creek, not far from the CT, the brown rocks look more like Utah's canyon country than East Tennessee. Blanchard Creek then enters Big Possum Creek, which looks the same from this point down. And after Big and Little Possum merge, we have the same result. Our hiking guides recommend using water only from points upstream of these junctures. Discoloration continues all the way to Chickamauga Lake. It would be a real tragedy to have the same situation in Rock Creek.

Warren