RURAL REVITALIZATION USING RECLAIMED COAL LANDS

EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS THE POTENTIAL OF A LARGE COTTAGE INDUSTRY IN AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS. RECLAMATION OF STRIP MINELANDS REQUIRES CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS FOR SEDIMENTATION. PREVIOUS RESEARCH IN AQUACULTURE AT THESE PONDS HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL AND GENERATED INTEREST BY LOCAL RESIDENTS IN PRODUCTION. THIS PROJECT ADAPTS EXISTING TECHNOLOGY TO THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES, WITHOUT LOSING SIGHTS OF THE NEED FOR DIVERSIFICATION WITHIN THE AGRICULTURE ECONOMY. SHOULD THISPROJECT BE SUCCESSFUL, THE RESULT WILL BE THE EXPLOITATION OF AN ESSENTIALLY UNUSED RESOURCE. THIS WILL BE IN A FORM IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS WILL WORK FOR THEMSELVES AND NOT BE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON ANY ONE CROP. THREE AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THEIR SUITABILITY FOR POLYCULTURE AND THEIR DIFFERENT MARKET NICHES. THEY ARE CHANNEL CATFISH AS A STAPLE FOOD ITEM, PADDLEFISH (POLYODON SPATULA) AS A LUXURY FOOD ITEM, AND FRESHWATER MUSSELS AS A TOURIST/CRAFT PRODUCT.