THE RED RIVER SAGA - History of the Red River Valley Dam

There is a novel here. Truly enough information to fill a hardbound book. An interesting declaration for an historical incident which secures only two or three lines in most published
works involving the Red River Gorge area. How could a story which spans decades, a day which commanded the national media suddenly be relegated to a passing notation?
This was the question which has percolated with our members these many years. A lack of information, photographs and memory have prevailed with the passage of time.
The RRS wanted to remedy this - -

In the beginnings of research, the visit and hike of the Justice of the Supreme Court William O. Douglas remained about the only facets that could somewhat be considered common
knowledge. However the exact date of the occurrence remained a layman's mystery. This was our first order of business as we contacted people mentioned in library records and the
Internet. Not too surprisingly after 40 years a lot of thoughts and memories had faded, the date and a number of facts now jumbled. Fortunately being a national story we were able to
secure concrete data and some photographs from The New York Times who had a reporter present on that day. We posted this information right away on the Red River Gorge Wikipedia
column in hopes that others might pick up on it. With the exact date now set we were able to branch out and the story began to grow. We do not profess that what you are about to see
is the complete story as the research still continues. Many sources even written in their day often conflict in facts or suffer from writer "point of view". In some cases it has been necessary
for us to make "well reasoned" decisions based on good repeating data.

Data-digging is a time consuming thing and unless you have a genuine interest in your subject, we do not recommend it. Yet to us this entire subject resembled a mystery in need of
solving. A piece here, a piece there. Soon it did not take a mathematician to calculate that the 40th anniversary of the pivotal hike would soon be coming up, that the whole story really
took decades to tell, the hopes and efforts of the local flood-plagued community members really began to spiral after the Dam Protest Hike and that after 4 decades emotions on the
subject, even with faded memories, still run high.

In the following pages we offer a timeline for both the chronology of the Red River Valley Dam and the focal day of November 18, 1967, the opposing forces involved and a online media
section second to none (at least none we could find). Despite our organizations relationship with the Red River Gorge for over 30 years we wanted to remain non-judgmental. We were
and still are interested in information, photographs and personal feelings regarding this bygone era from all viewpoints.

Lastly, our ultimate wish is that after your visit here you will leave a little more aware of the conflict which took place here so long ago. A struggle and resolution which set a course
for an ecological system and people's lives within the Red River Gorge and beyond.

Greg Stamper
RRS Contributing Columnist

Information, photos or comments you wish to contribute, Contact Us: RRS EMAIL