“The law of this nation says that the water of this country belongs to the people,” said Donna Lisenby, former Catawba Riverkeeper, Waterkeeper Alliance board member and new Upper Watauga Riverkeeper, responsible for the protection of the Watauga and Elk rivers. “Riverkeepers protect the people.”
Here’s the article from the High Country Press
10 acres for Boone water intake
Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson announced yesterday evening that the Town is purchasing ten acres along the New River for a raw-water intake.
The intake is located near the Watauga/Ashe county line and the purchase will cost the town $850,000. To cover the costs of the project, the town has applied for an 18 to 19 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Town officials say with the new intake and the existing intakes on Winkler’s Creek and the New River’s South Fork, Boone should be able to meet its twenty year needs.
Here’s the article from GoBlueRidge
$1.5 Million for Water Projects
More than $1.5 million could be on the way to help North Carolina communities upgrade their water systems.Gov. Mike Easley has signed off on federal-state grants for projects in Marshall, Mars Hill, Tryon, Valdese, Lenoir and Blowing Rock, his office announced today.
Click here to read more from the Asheville Citizen
Alternative Water for Boone and Blowing Rock
Boone and Blowing Rock are among 11 North Carolina communities facing the most severe water shortages because of drought.
Mayor Loretta Clawson of Boone and Chancellor Ken Peacock of Appalachian State University signed an agreement last month to connect the town and university water and sewer systems. They agreed to share the $250,000 cost of design and construction. Both the town and university are pursuing grants for the project.
Click here for the complete article from the Winston-Salem Journal