PROGRESS REPORT 10

PROGRESS REPORT NO. 10
(May 16, 2000)

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We have come a long way toward gaining local support since Watershed Day. I made a presentation on Monday, May 15 to the Anderson County Board of Commissioners on CCCSI. I also presented an overview of problems associated with dredging in the main creek channel, which was being considered to reduce flooding. The Commission voted to endorse CCCSI and to drop the idea of dredging the creek. TVA is scheduled to issue a report recommending that the County request funding from FEMA to restudy the flooding issue in Coal Creek. The Commissioners voted to use this report in a request to FEMA for funding so TVA can perform additional analyses and explore measures that can be taken, in accordance with the Clean Water Act, to reduce flooding damage.

Also, the Commission voted to endorse the use of "Project Impact" (FEMA) as a potential means to buy-out folks who experience routine flood damage.

The most positive sign that came from the meeting was a comment made by Rev. Roy Daugherty, Chairman of CCFPC. He told the Commission that "CCFPC wants to work with CCCSI volunteers and the County by having a work day to remove deadwood and debris that have accumulated around bridge piers...it will be organized like our Watershed Day 2000 event". CCFPC had protest signs up at Watershed Day on April 29th. Now they consider it "their" event. Sounds like progress to me.

To cement our relationship with CCFPC, we will support their Coal Creek Deadwood Removal Day on Saturday, June 24, 2000. CCFPC and CCCSI volunteers will work with crews and equipment from Anderson County from 8:00 am until noon cutting up and removing deadwood and debris that have accumulated at various bridge piers upstream of the Highway 116 Bridge in Lake City.

Afterwards, the ladies from the CCFPC will feed us at Briceville Elementary School where there will also be gospel singing. CCCSI will publicize and support Coal Creek Deadwood Removal Day just like we did for the Watershed Day 2000 event. Spread the word and plan on helping out. A map and further details will be included in the next progress report.

Other news includes:

	Coal Creek Deadwood Removal Day is so important to gaining public support of CCCSI that it is being listed again.
	I met with Jim Stewart, Director of Anderson County Schools to update him on the educational initiatives proposed by CCCSI. Mr. Stewart was born and raised in Fraterville and he is a graduate of Briceville School. He says that one of the fondest memories from his childhood is catching fish in Coal Creek. Mr. Stewart thanked CCCSI and Trout Unlimited for the work we have done with the schools in the watershed. He encouraged us to continue our efforts and to let him know if he can help.
	We got an email from Ginny who is a student and a member of the Tennessee Technology Student Association www.tntsa.org. She wants to do a school environmental project on Coal Creek and she asked for ideas. She also wants to be a CCCSI volunteer. I suggested that she research Coal Creek on our web site and others. She can then publish her ideas as to how we can achieve our mission to improve the quality of life in the watershed. After completing her school project, she can volunteer to help implement some of her ideas.
	Mike Graham, ecology teacher at Clinton Middle School, has scheduled a trip on March 23rd to perform benthic/water quality sampling in Coal Creek with his class. TVA, Trout Unlimited, Anderson County and CCCSI volunteers will participate as will students and teachers from watershed schools. We will all meet at 9:00 am at Briceville Elementary.