The Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (WATR) is asking interested candidates to apply for membership on its board of directors for a two-year term from February 2003 through January 2005. The primary qualification to serve on the WATR Board is to live or own property (a business or land) in the Tuckasegee River Watershed and to actively support the mission of the organization.

The Tuckasegee River drains 650 square miles of land in Jackson and Swain counties including all of the land within the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This drainage area is commonly referred to as the Tuckasegee River Watershed. The towns of Bryson City, Cherokee, Cullowhee, Dillsboro, Sylva, Webster, and Whittier are located in the watershed. Some of the major streams in the watershed include the Oconaluftee River (the largest tributary to the Tuckasegee River), Alarka Creek, Caney Fork, Conley Creek, Cooper Creek, Cullowhee Creek, Deep Creek, Greens Creek, Savannah Creek, Scotts Creek, Soco Creek, and Wrights Creek. There are also several lakes in the watershed including Tanasee, Wolf, Bear, and Cedar Cliff on the East Fork of the Tuckasegee River; Lake Glenville on the West Fork of the Tuckasegee River; and Lake Ela on the Oconaluftee River.

Formed in 2000, WATR is a nonprofit conservation organization working to preserve and improve water quality in the Tuckasegee River and its feeder streams. One of WATR’s main objectives is to bring people together from throughout the watershed (landowners, residents, business owners, and local governments) to deal with existing water quality problems and try to keep our streams healthy and clean even as the watershed experiences rapid population growth and land development.

WATR has started a stream monitoring program, distributes a bi-monthly newsletter called WATRline, and sponsors several educational programs, river activity days, and river cleanups. Through the stream monitoring program, WATR recently discovered a leaking sewer line to Scotts Creek in Sylva and alerted local officials to the problem. The group is also documenting sediment levels in streams when it rains.

“Muddy water is one of our main concerns. Most people notice when their creek runs brown or orange after it rains. But they might not realize the severe impact that dirt (or sediment) can have on a stream,” says Becky Rideout, WATR’s executive Director. “Once a stream is degraded with sediment, it takes a long time for it to heal — and that can only happen if we don’t continue to add more sediment.”

Anyone interested in learning more about WATR and/or the opportunity to serve on the WATR Board of Directors should contact Becky Rideout at 828.668.0530 or 828.925.WATR.