PROGRESS REPORT 11

PROGRESS REPORT NO. 11
(May 26, 2000)

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Are you ready for another change? The latest proposal is to dissolve the Coal Creek Flood Prevention Committee (CCFPC) and the Coal Creek Clean Stream Initiative (CCCSI) and to combine forces in a new organization, the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation, Inc. (CCWF). The idea for CCWF came from John Bachner, Executive Vice President of ASFE, a national engineering organization. John has reviewed our initiative and he participated in the field trip on May 23, 2000 with students from Clinton Middle School and Briceville Elementary School. He observed that a "Foundation" organizational structure can focus on coordination and funding. The various engineering, conservation, and scouting organizations can then concentrate on implementation of the various initiatives.

At a meeting on May 25, 2000 with County officials, the CCFPC chairman said:

"We realize that we can't dredge the creek, but we want to work together to do whatever we can to reduce flooding". Plans were discussed for our next event, Coal Creek Deadwood Removal Day 2000 on June 24, 2000 www.coalcreekaml.com/Deadwood.htm. Plans were also discussed for the development of an Emergency Response Plan in preparation for the next major flood. The Dream Contest entries show that the kids in the watershed want a park. We discussed the idea of a park for the kids. Since May 19, 2002 will be the 100th anniversary of the Fraterville Mine Disaster, this date sounds like a reasonable goal for dedicating the new park. The logical location for the park would be at the site of the Fraterville Mine Disaster.

The park will be for the kids and it can contain historical information on the 1902 Fraterville Mine Disaster and the 1911 Cross Mountain (Briceville) Mine Disaster. The park can serve as a reminder of how far we have advanced in mine safety in the past 100 years. I bet that all government and private agencies involved with mine safety will endorse and support such an initiative. I bet that several Eagle Scout projects will provide the labor to make the park a reality.

I am scheduled to speak at a community meeting at Briceville School on Thursday, June 1, 2000 at 7:00 pm to present the idea for the new watershed foundation. Also, Deadwood Removal Day, the Emergency Response Plan, and the other initiatives will be discussed. For example, the surgeon general announced that dental care is a serious problem in rural areas like Coal Creek. I don't know about the rest of rural Appalachia, but if we engineer a public water supply system to get folks in Coal Creek on fluoridated drinking water and we work with the kids in the schools, we can lick the dental problems in Coal Creek.

CCCSI volunteers are invited to attend the community meeting in Briceville and provide input on the new organizational structure. I need to know your views on combining forces in a new organization.

Barry Thacker, PE

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