Press Release: Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group 4/17/06 PUBLIC INVITED TO A LUNCH AND NATURE WALK HOSTED BY THE SHOALS ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE SUNDAY - APRIL 23rd LUNCH 12:30PM NATURE WALK 2:00PM
The Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group
is hosting a lunch and Nature Walk at the site of a proposed marina
located two miles southeast of Rogersville. The Walk will tour 91
primitive wooded and wetland acres of TVA land near the mouth of the
Elk River slated for construction of the marina. The tour will begin
Sunday, 4/23/06 at 2:00PM should be over by 4:30PM. You may want to
wear sturdy hiking or walking shoes, thick socks, long pants and bug
repellant. The tour will cover a total distance of about 2 miles over
hilly wooded terrain. Most of this easy walk will be made on a small
road through the property. The walk will be lead by Charles Rose,
President of Shoals Environmental Alliance and John Crowder a biologist
with a private environmental consulting firm. During his career Mr.
Crowder has worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Environmental Protection Agency, and TVA.
The Walk will be preceded by a free lunch, including hamburgers
and hot dogs, starting at 12:30PM. The luncheon will be hosted by Bob
Blanks and Buddy Todd of the Rogersville SIG. Paper goods, plastic
eating utensils, hot-dogs, hamburgers, ice, soft drinks, and tea will
be furnished as well as tables for serving food. You may want to bring
a lawn chair with you. If you want to just drop by for lunch and skip
the nature walk, please do so.
You should know by now that TVA did exactly as we expected. They
ignored all of our concerns and objections to the marina/resort. TVA's
final Environmental Assessment (EA) indicated that our concerns were
about details that were of "no significant impact". In other words,
they ignored all of us who oppose the marina. The final EA will go to
TVA's Board of Directors for a decision. We expect to
proceed with litigation against TVA if alleged defects in the EA are
not corrected. Representatives from WildSouth and WildLaw will be
attending the lunch to answer questions. Visit http://tinyurl.com/k3zrc
for an extensive list of alleged defects identified by the attorneys at
the WildLaw environmental law firm. Also, those of you who
haven't yet contributed to the Elk River Legal Defense Fund may do so
at the rally if you wish. For more information visit the Shoals
Environmental Alliance - Elk River web page at
http://tinyurl.com/85e9q
DIRECTIONS
From the Rogersville traffic light on Highway 72, go south 2.5
miles on County Road 91 (Lambs Ferry Rd) to County Road
605, turn left onto CR-605. Go 1.5 miles to the "Y"
(not the "Y" that you encounter after just 0.3 miles), then bear
left ( a sign will indicate CR-91 branches to the left and right, go
left). From that "Y", go 1.6 miles to intersection of CR-91 and
Bluff Drive (on the left). Turn left onto Bluff Drive. The
rally/lunch site is on the left about 100 yards north of the
intersection on left.
We will meet for lunch at 12:30PM. If you want to skip the lunch
and just meet for the Walk, continue north on Bluff Drive 1.4
miles until it "dead ends". This is where the nature walk will begin at
2:00 PM.
Press Release: Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group
Flotilla Draws 16 Water-Craft, over fifty protesters
The Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group
hosted a "Nature Flotilla" near the site of a proposed marina on
the Elk River. The Flotilla cruised a circuit between the mouth of the
Elk River and the Elk River Bridge to demonstrate concern for the
health of the river and their opposition to the proposed project.
Sixteen water-craft of various sizes with over fifty protesters participated. Participants
were able to view from the water the shoreline of the wooded and
wetland acres of TVA land slated for construction of the marina. See photos: float01.jpgfloat02.jpgfloat03.jpgfloat04.jpgfloat05.jpg
Press Release: Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group 10/10/05
Rogersville SIG Nature Walk Draws Forty
The Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group
hosted a Nature Walk at the site of a proposed marina located two miles
southeast of town. The group of over forty people from Athens,
Rogersville, Florence and areas in between toured 91 primitive wooded
and wetland acres of TVA land near the mouth of the Elk River slated
for construction of the marina.
The proposal to build the marina on TVA land has generated an
anti-proposal petition with over 250 signatures, numerous letters and
several meetings of angry concerned citizens. It calls for the
construction of roads, an RV park with a potential of 200 campsites,
nature trails, a marina store, restaurant, and boat dry storage
facility to be constructed in several phases. The commercial
water use facilities include construction of a 50 boat slip marina, a
concrete wave break, a concrete trash break with fuel dock, two
fishing-mooring piers, dredging and a retaining wall to accommodate a
fork boat lift launching area, a launching ramp, and riprap. A
future phase may include the construction of 50 additional boat slips.
Opponents of the project believe it will be devastating to the
character and ecology of one of the last undeveloped two-mile stretches
of the river. They further object to the undisclosed nature of
the contractual agreement between TVA and the developer, and the
paucity of construction data provided in the Environmental Assessment. See
photos: walk02.jpgwalk04.jpgwalk05.jpg
Press Release: Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group 10/10/05
Rogersville SIG Sponsors "Nature Flotilla"
The Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group
is hosting a "Nature Flotilla" to assemble near the site of a proposed
marina located southeast of this small east Lauderdale County
town. The purpose of the Nature Flotilla is to call attention to
the proposed construction of a marina on 91 primitive acres of TVA land
near the mouth of Elk River. The Flotilla will cruise a circuit
between the mouth of the Elk River and the Elk River Bridge to
demonstrate concern for the health of the river. This will permit
participants to view from the water the shoreline of the wooded and
wetland acres of TVA land slated for construction of the marina.
The Flotilla will assemble Sunday 10/16/05 (10/23/05 if raining) at
2:00 PM at Barnett's Landing. Boaters are invited to join the
group by water at the landing from other locations on the river or to
use the ramp at the landing. Those persons without watercraft are
invited to meet at the landing. Room will be provided on an
as-available basis on the boats participating in the Flotilla.
This event is open to the public and news media. Participants are
encouraged to bring protest signs to display or attach to the boats and
to bring cameras. This may be one of the last opportunities to
photograph the beauty of this stretch of lower Elk River in its current
undisturbed state.
Barnett's Landing is located 1.5 miles up-stream from the Tennessee
River on the west bank. From AL.207 in Rogersville go east 1.3
miles to Hooie Ln / Barnett Rd. Turn right (south) and continue
for 2.1 miles to the end of the road which terminates at Barnett's
landing.
The controversial proposal to build the privately owned marina on TVA
land has generated an anti-proposal petition with over 250 signatures,
numerous letters and several meetings of angry concerned
citizens. The proposal calls for the construction of roads, an RV
park with a potential of 200 campsites, nature trails, a marina store,
restaurant, and boat dry storage facility to be constructed in several
phases. The commercial water use facilities include construction
of a 50 boat slip marina, a concrete wave break, a concrete trash break
with fuel dock, two fishing-mooring piers, dredging and a retaining
wall to accommodate a fork boat lift launching area, a launching ramp,
and rip rap. A future phase may include the construction of 50
additional boat slips.
Opponents of the project believe it will be devastating to the
character and ecology this undeveloped two-mile stretches of the
river. They also object to the "in-camera" contractual agreement
between TVA and the developer, and the paucity of environmental,
economic and construction data provided by the developer.
Press Release: Shoals
Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest
Group 10/1/05
Rogersville SIG Sponsors Nature Walk
The Shoals Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest Group
is hosting a Nature Walk at the site of a proposed marina located two
miles southeast of town. The Walk will tour 91 pristine wooded and
wetland acres of TVA land near the mouth of the Elk River slated for
construction of the marina. The tour will meet Sunday 10/9/05 at 1:00PM
in the west end of the FoodLand parking lot located just west of the
Hardee's restaurant at the intersection of U.S.72 and Lambs Ferry
Rd (AL.207) in Rogersville. It is open to the public and news
media and will be over by 4:00PM. Bring cameras and a walking-stick if
you have one. Wear sturdy hiking or walking shoes, thick socks,
long pants and bug repellant. The tour will cover a total distance of
about 2 miles over hilly wooded terrain. Most of this easy walk
will be made on a small road through the property. One of the tour
leaders will be Paul G. Davison, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biology
at UNA
<http://www2.una.edu/biology/Biology%20Files/BiologyFaculty.htm>.
The proposal to build the marina on TVA land has generated an
anti-proposal petition with over 250 signatures, numerous letters
and several meetings of angry concerned citizens. The proposal calls
for the construction of roads, an RV park with a potential of 200
campsites, nature trails, a marina store, restaurant, and boat dry
storage facility to be constructed in several phases. The commercial
water use facilities include construction of a 50 boat slip marina, a
concrete wave break, a concrete trash break with fuel dock, two
fishing-mooring piers, dredging and a retaining wall to accommodate a
fork boat lift launching area, a launching ramp, and rip rap. A future
phase may include the construction of 50 additional boat slips.
Opponents of the project believe it will be devastating to the
character and ecology of one of the last undeveloped two-mile stretches
of the river. The further object to the "in-camera" proposed
contractual agreement between TVA and the developer, and the paucity of
construction data provided. This is probably one of the last
opportunities to see this area in its current undisturbed state.
Press Release: Shoals
Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest
Group 9/22/05
Rogersville Rally Draws Protestors
A new marina project proposed southeast of Rogersville on the Elk River
drew over thirty people demonstrating their opposition to the project.
The group presented a list of their objections to the project at the
Rogersville Town Hall on Thursday 9/22/05.
The proposal to build the marina on 92 pristine acres of TVA land has
generated an anti-proposal petition with over 250 signatures,
numerous letters and several meetings of angry concerned citizens. The
proposal calls for the construction of roads, an RV park with a
potential of 200 campsites, nature trails, a marina store, restaurant,
and boat dry storage facility to be constructed in several phases. The
commercial water use facilities include construction of a 50 boat slip
marina, a concrete wave break, a concrete trash break with fuel dock,
two fishing-mooring piers, dredging and a retaining wall to accommodate
a fork boat lift launching area, a launching ramp, and riprap. A future
phase may include the construction of 50 additional boat slips.
See photos: rally05.jpgrally 07.jpgrally12.jpgrally24.jpgrally35.jpg
Press Release: Shoals
Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest
Group 9/21/05
Bald Eagles Found At Site of Proposed Marina
A new marina project proposed southeast of Rogersville on the Elk River
continue to stir controversy in this small east-county town. The
proposal to build the marina on 92 pristine acres of TVA land has
generated an anti-proposal petition with over 250 signatures,
numerous letters and several meetings of angry concerned citizens. The
proposal calls for the construction of roads, an RV park with a
potential of 200 campsites, nature trails, a marina store, restaurant,
and boat dry storage facility to be constructed in several phases. The
commercial water use facilities include construction of a 50 boat slip
marina, a concrete wave break, a concrete trash break with fuel dock,
two fishing-mooring piers, dredging and a retaining wall to accommodate
a fork boat lift launching area, a launching ramp, and riprap. A future
phase may include the construction of 50 additional boat slips.
Most recently several people living in the area of the proposed project
say that they have routinely seen American Bald Eagles in and about
that area. The American Bald Eagle is prominent on the threatened
species list for Alabama. The Shoals Environmental Alliance -
Rogersville has made an effort to confirm these reported
sightings. In the past few days they were able to locate two
residents who would attest via notarized affidavit to such sightings.
Press Release: Shoals
Environmental Alliance - Rogersville Special Interest
Group 9/15/05
Marina Proposed Near Rogersville Ignites Controversy
A new marina project proposed southeast of Rogersville on the Elk River
is stirring a lot of controversy in this town. The proposal to build
the marina on 92 pristine acres of TVA land has generated an
anti-proposal petition with over 250 signatures, numerous letters
and several meetings of angry concerned citizens. The most recent
meeting was Wednesday night (9/14/05) at the Rogersville Masonic lodge.
Thirty-five attendees discussed the proposal which calls for the
construction of roads, an RV park (potential of 200 campsites), nature
trails, a marina store, restaurant, and boat dry storage facility to be
constructed in several phases. The commercial water use facilities
include construction of a 50 boat slip marina, a concrete wave break, a
concrete trash break with fuel dock, two fishing-mooring piers,
dredging and a retaining wall to accommodate a fork boat lift launching
area, a launching ramp, and riprap. A future phase may include the
construction of 50 additional boat slips.
The meeting resulted in the formation of an "Action Committee" which
has announced plans to hold an outdoor group meeting in front of the
Rogersville Town Hall on Thursday September 22 at 1:00PM to present the
city with a list of it's concerns and objections. The public is invited
to participate.
