HIGH COUNTRY — MountainTrue, an environmental organization based in the Southern Blue Ridge, announced June 2 that their Watauga Riverkeeper installed Boone’s first Trash Trout in Winkler Creek along the
Historic Dam On Watauga River Demolished by Keri Brown
2:52pm May 28, 2021 A crew removes a section of the Ward Dam. The demolition was completed in mid-May. Picture courtesy of MountainTrue/Watauga Riverkeeper
A historic dam on the Watauga River is no longer standing. Environmentalists say the removal will increase the overall health of the waterway.
The former Ward Mill Dam sat just outside of Boone. It was first built in the 1890s and was used to power nearby grist and sawmills. Over the years, the structure went through a lot of changes, but the hydroelectric dam was demolished earlier this month.
Testing conducted by local conservation organization MountainTrue has found that cattle and faulty or inadequate sewer, septic or water treatment infrastructure are the major sources of E. coli pollution in the French Broad River.
SEVEN DEVILS â Seven Devils Town Council reconvened for its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 8, in which the council voted to approve two annexation requests related to the potential development of a wastewater treatment plant and a mixed-use development.
Charles Clement, Managing Partner with Clevon Woods Associates LLC, first submitted the two applications for approval in October. The first application requests annexation for a .576-acre parcel off of Aldridge Road next to the Watauga River, where a wastewater treatment plant is planned for the property. The other request is for a 7.757-acre parcel where a mixed-use property consisting of a commercial hotel and condominiums is planned, which the plant will support.