Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 18

M Appalachian Trail to Assess Lands
by Cathryn mcCue

mountain
report

it will be the most extensive survey of the 2,180-mile trail in
its 90-year history.

Above: The A.T. inventory will work to sustain the trail. Right: The Linville Gorge fire at first seemed devastating, but native species are returning.

1 2 3 4 5

regionwide

regionwide

north Carolina

virginia

west virginia

The world-famous
Appalachian Trail gets 2
million visitors a year -
not including pet dogs -
and as a result is
showing wear and tear.
Next year, researchers
will undertake the most
comprehensive assessment of the trail in its
90-year history. "I
believe there will be
more catastrophic climate events, such as
heavy and extended rain
events, that really stress
trails," says Jeff Marion
with the U.S. Geologic
Survey, who will lead the
team from Virginia Tech
and N.C. State. The
results will help land
managers sustain the
recreational treasure
well into the future. nps.
gov/appa/index.htm

Plans for two major
natural gas pipelines in
the region are drawing
concern about potential contaminated
water, air pollution,
degradation of public
lands and decrease of
private property values.
The proposals: a
Dominion Power 450mile line across the
Alleghany Highlands of
W.Va. and Va., through
the Monongahela and
George Washington
national forests and
into N.C.; and a 330mile line by EQT/
NextEra-mile line from
W.V. to Va., and possibly into N.C. Plans by a
different company for
a third pipeline were
suspended.friendsofnelson.com

Although last winter's
wildfire that burned
almost 2,600 acres in the
Linville Gorge seemed
devastating, ecologists -
taking the long-view -
are finding strong
regrowth of native trees
and plants. The fire
wiped out species that
had dominated the area
over the last century due
largely to a fire-suppression policy. With those
species gone, ecologists
see the return of types of
oak, wildflowers, grasses
and other species they
feel better represent the
historic eco-system of the
area. citizen-times.
com/story/news/local/
2014/07/19silver-lining- seen-linvillegorge-wildfire/12891387

The Federal Highway
Administration recently
agreed with Southwest
Virginians calling for an
in-depth study of the
impacts of the proposed Coalfields
Expressway. "We now
have the chance to figure out the best ways
to improve transportation access and diversify our struggling
mountain economy,"
says Marley Green, of
Wise County. VDOT did
only a cursory review of
the current route which
relies on mountaintop
removal to prepare the
roadbed, cutting taxpayer costs but increasing harm to forests,
streams and human
health. appvoices.
org/virginia/cfx

Citizens opposed to surface coal mining in the
vicinity of the historic
Blair Mtn. Battlefield in
Logan County, W.Va.,
scored an important victory when the state prohibited Aracoma Coal,
which has a state permit
to mine in the Camp
Branch area, from mining within 1,000 feet of
the battlefield, at least
temporarily. In the
meantime, the citizens
continue to press W.Va.
Governor Tomblin to
use his authority under
the National Historic
Preservation Act to
establish a protective
buffer around the entire
battlefield, site of the
1921 armed rebellion
by coal miners.
blairmountain.org

18 | BlueRidgeCountry.com


http://avlne.ws/1mrT3Q8 http://avlne.ws/1mrT3Q8 http://friendsofnelson.com http://appvoices.org/virginia/cfx http://nps.gov/appa/index.htm http://friendsofnelson.com http://appvoices.org/virginia/cfx http://www.blairmountain.org http://nps.gov/appa/index.htm http://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com

Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014

Digital Help Guide
From the Farm
From the Editor
The Hike
Festivals & Events
Mountain Report
Creature Feature
The Smokies for All Seasons
Late-Fall Glories: The Photo Essay
Fine Dining in the Mountains
Winter Getaways for Snow Lovers and for Snow Not-Lovers
Vote for the Best of the Mountains: Scenic Drives!
Cabin in the Woods: The Red Horse Inn
Mountain Garden
Guest Column: Beth Macy & Tom Landon
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 5
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Digital Help Guide
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 7
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - From the Farm
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - From the Editor
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - The Hike
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 13
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Festivals & Events
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 16
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Mountain Report
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - The Smokies for All Seasons
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 22
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 24
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Late-Fall Glories: The Photo Essay
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 28
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Fine Dining in the Mountains
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 32
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Winter Getaways for Snow Lovers and for Snow Not-Lovers
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 36
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 38
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 40
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Vote for the Best of the Mountains: Scenic Drives!
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Cabin in the Woods: The Red Horse Inn
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 44
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 45
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 46
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Mountain Garden
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Guest Column: Beth Macy & Tom Landon
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - November/December 2014 - Cover4
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