Approximately 80 people from throughout the high country participated in this September 10, 2005 gathering at the Broyhill Inn. Most members of the Boone City Council, the mayor, four of the five Watauga Count Commissioners as well as elected officials from outlying towns and the county attended at least part of the day. In the morning session, six faculty members from ASU provided information and data concerning the local geology, rivers and flooding, wetlands, stream life, and water quality.
The action really started in the afternoon. The facilitator asked participants to suggest topics for discussion, once several topics were identified, folks went to the topic that most interested them and joined a discussion about how to address that issue. This approach, known as Open Space Technology was very effective in letting people pursue their key interests. The last session of the day brought everyone back together to review what had transpired in the small groups and to identify "next steps" that participants were willing to take. There was strong interest in rain gardens, in alternative energy, water availability and quality, and in developing a well monitoring program.
Follow-up meetings have revealed that participants are pursuing rain gardens throughout the community and that ASU faculty are working with residents to use abandoned wells for a well-monitoring effort. ASU faculty have also begun a creek monitoring effort. ASU students have received funding and are continuing to develop projects to promote bio-diesel and solar power in this region.
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