HARTFORD-State Sen. Steve Southerland and state Rep. Eddie Yokley couldn't have asked for a better day to go whitewater rafting than this past Friday. Clear skies and the comfort of May were more than enough to invite anyone who enjoys the outdoors on the trip. However, the purpose of the downstream jaunt involved more than recreation.

      The state officials joined Hartwell Carson and the staff of Smoky Mountain Outdoors for a trip down the river as part of Riverlink's "Paddlin' the Pigeon...Hope for a Cleaner Pigeon River." According to Carson, who is Riverlink's Riverkeeper, the organization has paddled the Pigeon's length from above the paper mill in Canton and will end its journey upon reaching the river's junction with the French Broad below Newport.

      According to a release by Riverlink, the organization is, "A North Carolina-based non-profit organization promoting the economic and revitalization of the French Broad Watershed. The organization kicked off its "Paddlin' Down the Pigeon" journey earlier this week to raise awareness about the challenges that face the Pigeon River." The organization is "looking to educate the public about the Pigeon as well as check on the health of the river by taking water quality samples for temperature and dissolved oxygen along the way."

      The release continues, "The Pigeon River has been an unwilling participant in transporting pollution form the Canton paper mill to the downstream communities of Cocke County for over 100-years. Although grassroots efforts in the 1980s resulted in improvements in the water quality, objectionable color, taste and odor, as well as visible foam are still present. While many believe that the issue of a badly polluted Pigeon River is an affair of the past, the Pigeon River is far from meeting standards set by the Clean Water Act, which was supposed to eliminate the release of toxic substances by 1983. The river is still listed as "impaired" for color by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation."

      Last year, several people who recreate on the watershed believed the river was dirtier than it had been in previous years despite cleanups. The release, compiled by Riverlink, The Pigeon River Action Group, Dead Pigeon River Council and Clean Water for North Carolina read, "Citizens that live along the river and thouse who are employed by Cocke County's booming rafting industry will tell you that the river is worse now than it has been in the past 10-years."

      Thomas Gage, a raft guide on the Pigeon, told Riverlink, "Since I've been rafting the Pigeon, I have seen water quality conditions decline, especially when the river is running low from lack of rain." Riverlink feels water quality impairments "have dampened economic development in the communities along the river. The mill's wastewater discharges permit, which expired in November 2006 and is on "administrative extension," will soon be up for renewal, giving the public an opportunity to voice its concerns about water quality issues on the river."

      Carson said Riverlink started the trip Monday and has toured the paper mill. "It is not where it should be," said Carson of the river's water quality. "Despite improvements in the mill, urban growth (development of suburban communities and concrete roads, which create impervious structures) is one of our key concerns."

      Sue Bebout, of the Pigeon River Action Group, said, "More than 120,000 pounds of chemicals are dumped into the river per year. Tennessee still considers the river to be impaired in color and smell." Bebout continued, "We need to get this river back where it was 100-years ago...Its been too long." Bebout said the Hartford community had one of the highest cancer rates in the United States in the 1980s and that people are still having ailments from pollutants found in the river.

      Bebout added, "We salute all the activists over the past 40-years including: Clean water for North Carolina, The Dead Pigeon River Council and the legislators in Nashville who have been putting the Pigeon River at the top of their lists." Concerning politicians involved with legislation to improve the river, Bebout said, "We don't care which side of the aisle they're on. We just want the river clean."

      Chris Ford, of the Tennessee Conservation of Voter in Nashville, who drove to Hartford Friday morning from Nashville, said his family has been in this area for more than 200-years. The organization handles all environmental legislation in Tennessee. According to Ford, "We enjoy incredible support in Nashville concerning the river. I think Governor Bredesen has a significant interest in the River and Rep. Eddie Yokley has bent over backwards for our conservation work." Ford said more information about the conservation group can be found at its website www.tnconservationvoters.org.

      Southerland told the Plain Talk, the state has passed legislation for more sites to be tested and encourage TDEC to work together to continuously improve the river." Southerland also believes current water samples taken on the river are diluted because of where they're taken. Near the Walter's powerhouse, clean water from the Big Creek Watershed, flowing from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, enters the river. In addition, Tobes Creek, which flows into the mainstream at the bridge from Interstate 40, also may be responsible for dilutions in water sampling.

      "We feel like the water samples are being diluted. We want tests to be done in the center of the river whit at least one generator running." In addition, Southerland wants the river to be tested for true and apparent color. Yokley said grants in the $40,000 range have been made available for neighboring rivers such as the Nolichucky where tires dumped into the river 50-years ago from a tire company have been removed.