Oral history interview with Dr. Daniel Okun, October 22, 1985

In this interview, Daniel Okun, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel at the time of the interview, lays out the case for creating the Cane Creek reservoir. His knowledge about water quality allows him to make a compelling argument, and he uses logic that might be painful to opponents of the reservoir. For example, he claims that the best way to preserve rural communities is with watershed protections, which prevent development. Opponents of the reservoir might argue that its construction will displace some residents and force damaging regulations on those who remain. Okun appears frustrated with the length of the legal battle over the project, which seemed necessary fifteen years before this interview. For Okun, the ultimate blame falls with the university, which moved too slowly early in the project and allowed opposition to build.