Go to the homepage for the Sylva Herald and Ruralite

Help clean up the Tuckaseigee Saturday
It's time once again for the Tuckaseigee River's annual spring cleaning. Organized by Western Carolina University and supported financially by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and many other individuals and businesses, the river cleanup needs many volunteers in order to be a success.

Aside from Mountain Heritage Day, the river event is our best chance as a community to interact with WCU and its students. And everyone who pitches in will have the satisfaction of knowing they've done their part for the river that runs almost the entire length of Jackson County.

That people trash our beautiful river is incomprehensible to us, yet during each year's cleanup volunteers collect literally tons of trash.

We are lucky that WCU has chosen to put its considerable muscle behind this effort that benefits the entire county, and we encourage everyone to join this year's effort.

Cleaning the trash and debris from the river is vital to the health and beauty of our river, and we appreciate all those involved in this worthwhile event.

Another effort is currently under way to benefit the river - and all the other streams in our county as well. County commissioners have before them a sedimentation control ordinance aimed at limiting the damage done to the Tuckaseigee and its tributaries by erosion and sedimentation.

We hope they sign it. It's not as far-reaching in scope as we would like, but it's a solid first step toward stemming the flow of sediment that's choking our streams and lakes.

With sediment the number one pollutant in WNC waterways, it's past time to take strong action to encourage everyone who disturbs land in Jackson County to use sound erosion control practices.

Abundant water is probably this county's greatest natural resource. We all need to join Saturday's cleanup effort.

And let's not stop there in our efforts on the Tuckaseigee's behalf. Let's encourage our commissioners to support the proposed sediment control ordinance that is aimed at erosion reduction.

It's the only river we have. We need to take care of it.


Editorial policy

The opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views.

Back to Archive: 04/13/00.