Meet Donna Lisenby the new Upper Watauga Riverkeeper on Saturday, May 24th at The Mast General Store Annex in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. She will be available to answer questions and give much more information from 11 a.m. -3p.m. during the kickoff event to the Take it Outside series at the Annex.
From the headwaters on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain to the Watauga Lake Dam on the Tennessee border, the Upper Watauga River is one of Western North Carolina's treasures. The Watauga, a Cherokee word meaning "beautiful river," begins its westward flow to the Gulf of Mexico in Watauga County, North Carolina. A fast growing area in the Carolina Mountains, Watauga County is experiencing increased development that could impact the future of the Upper Watauga River. Unmonitored, this development could cause higher flooding events and more intense low water droughts. In the past, the health of the river was left to chance, but that is about to change with the addition of a Riverkeeper to protect the future of the Upper Watauga River.
Donna Lisenby comes to her new position as the Upper Watauga Riverkeeper from a similar position on the Catawba River, which flows through North and South Carolina. Donna, a South Carolina native and Clemson University graduate, is committed to "building sustainable relationships between people and Earth."
Donna began her mission as the Catawba Riverkeeper in 1998 with responsibility for all 300 miles of the river. Along with a network of trained volunteers, she monitored water quality and enforced environmental laws, among other tasks. Being the voice of the Catawba had many challenges but did not go unnoticed. Donna was named as the "1999 Guardian of the Environment" by The Charlotte Observer and received three "Best of Charlotte" awards for "Best Effort to Improve the Environment." In speaking of Donna, Hickory, North Carolina Mayor Rudy Wright said "She has been an advocate and a spokesman for what I consider the most endangered river in America."
Permission to reprint this information has been given by Mast General Store Webmaster - Bob.
Most people don't know the Legend or how unique the Blowing Rock actually is -My husband and I visited when we first moved to the area. the view are quite spectacular.
from what we understand the Legend come somerhing like this:
The Legend
It is said that a Chickasaw chieftan, afraid of a white man's admiration for his daughter, journeyed far from the plains to bring her to The Blowing Rock and the care of a squaw mother. One day the maiden, daydreaming on the craggy cliff, spied a Cherokee brave wandering in the wilderness far below and playfully shot an arrow in his direction. The flirtation worked because soon he appeared before her wigwam, courted her with songs of his land and they became lovers.
One day a reddening of the sky brought the brave and the maiden to The Blowing Rock. The brave viewed this as a sign of trouble commanding his return to his tribe in the plains. With the maiden's begging and pleading for him not to leave her, the brave, torn by conflict of duty and heart, leaped from The Rock into the wilderness far below. The grief-stricken maiden prayed daily to the Great Spirit until one evening with a reddening sky, a gust of wind blew her lover back onto The Rock and into her arms. From that day a perpetual wind has blown up onto The Rock from the valley below. For people of other days, at least, this was explanation enough for The Blowing Rock's mysterious winds causing even the snow to fall upside down.
How The Blowing Rock Got Its Name...
The Blowing Rock is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, (see photo of my crazy husband on the Rock) overhanging Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below. The phenomenon is so called because the rocky walls of the gorge form a flume through which the northwest wind sweeps with such force that it returns light objects cast over the void.
The current of air flowing upward from The Rock prompted the Ripley's "Believe-It-Or-Not" cartoon about "the only place in the world where snow falls upside down." Visible from "The Rock" down the gorge to the southwest are Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock. To the west are Grandfather Mountain (the highest peak in the Blue Ridge chain) and Mount Mitchell (the highest peak east of the Rockies).
Here is a shot we took of the view.
On the ledge of the blowing Rock
I love going to the farmers Market on Saturday mornings. The Watauga Farmers market has been in operation since 1974, and is located at the Horn In The West in Boone, North Carolina. Horn in the West can be acccessed from either 321 across from Blockbuster or from 105 bypass next to First Citizens Bank.
Once you go you will be hooked and you will see why the market is a direct link between our local farmers and the consumer. The variety of fresh veggie's, Goat Cheese, fresh baked breads and muffins as well as Local Crafts make this a trip worth the time! The members of the farmers' market are proud of the high quality products they sell.
We hope you will enjoy coming to the market as much as we do!
The market is open from 8:00AM to Noon Saturdays - May 3-October 25, 2008 Wednesdays - June 18-September 10, 2008
For more information please visit: http://wataugacountyfarmersmarket.org/
Award-winning Echota is in the heart of the best the Blue Ridge has to offer. The North Carolina High Country, is a growing destination for vacationers and retirees. Property values keep increasing!
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