Middlesboro, Ky - Cannon Creek Lake is the primary water supply for Bell County, however with its location and pristine environment some wonder if it could be used as a recreational tourist retreat. The idea of developing Cannon Creek Lake, an area of natural beauty with easy access from US 25E, the main corridor through the Bell County, could both draw in tourists and be enjoyed by Bell County residents. The Bell County Fiscal Court, with assistance from the EDA (Economic Development Administration), funded a study to consider a proposed recreational development at Cannon Creek Lake. Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers has just completed the study on the Cannon Creek Lake area for development.
The two main sections in the study are (1) the feasibility of developing public lands in the Cannon Creek Lake Watershed for recreational uses and (2) establishing guidelines for the development of adjacent private lands. The study identifies several possible developments that could attract tourists to the area. Numerous recreational facilities considered include: a lodge, on-site meeting facilities, a recreational vehicle (RV) park, fishing cottages, campsites, fishing access, better boating facilities, ATV trails, and equine trails. However, water quality is the major concern since this lake is the primary source of water for Pineville and Bell County. Any development in this watershed could drastically alter the quality of the water supply; therefore it is imperative to establish guidelines to prevent any actions that could damage the quality of water.
Several principal findings of this study are as follows. Infrastructure including roadway, water, and sewer are reasonably constructible and could open this area to many uses. All recreational facilities considered are feasible, however, several of those facilities are not recommended for the protection of this watershed. Cannon Creek Lake is an environmentally sensitive watershed that could be developed as long as the proper precautions are taken. An advisory board needs to be established to develop guidelines that set limits, monitor activities, and review construction projects. Guidelines need to be established for lands in the Cannon Creek Lake watershed before any development begins and then address development issues as they arise.
The full report may be downloaded here:
Report (133 KB)
Appendix A (46.0 MB)
Appendix B (12.3 MB)
Appendix C (58 KB)
Appendix D (74 KB)
Appendix E (31 KB)
Celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, Vaughn & Melton offers an extensive range of engineering and architectural services for a variety of industries and applications. The firm operates offices in Middlesboro and London, Kentucky; Greeneville and Knoxville, Tennessee; Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina; and Spartanburg, South Carolina. For more information, please visit www.vaughnmelton.com.
