Deep South Regional Partnership E-news
09/14/05
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RPC Fall Meeting
The Deep South RPC meeting is scheduled for Saturday November 12 at the Forest Service Center in Asheville, NC. The meeting will start in late morning so that folks from afar will be able to leave that morning for the meeting. The annual CMC banquet is Friday night November 11 for those who would like to attend. We welcome all to our banquet. The Blue Ridge Greenways Conference is also in Asheville that weekend. More information on teh fall meeting to follow!
Reference Materials for the next meeting
The first is the Club Presidents Handbook. One of the first duties for our committee is to establish a framework for the work we want to accomplish. This will include the development of a regional perspective and a close coordination with the Deep South regional Office. I think a committee handbook will be a good first step in organizing these policies and goals, and will be a valuable contribution to the next group of committee members.
The second is a graphic, describing the AT Project Management Cycle. Our committee will be a significant partner in prioritizing and implementing regional projects, and will be active participants in discussions of budgets and funding. AT Project Management Cycle
The third is a: Board of Directors Handbook
Come Help Us Celebrate !!!
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has received the first check for $10,740 from sales of the NC A.T. License Plate. All of this money must be used in North Carolina for Appalachian Trail purposes, so you’re A.T. section is likely to benefit from this program at some point.
We are planning a big celebration of receipt of the first check in Hot Springs, October 3rd. This celebration will be the kick-off of our campaign to sell 5000 A.T. license plates by the end of 2006. With the $100,000 annual proceeds from sales at that level, we hope to leverage the funds through grants and partnerships, perhaps even to one million dollars! Think what the A.T. community could accomplish with local funding like that!
Non-Profits Join Battle Against Invasive/Exotic Plants
Join Local Volunteers in Protecting Our Natural Resources
HOT SPRINGS, N.C. – Volunteers are needed to help protect our National Forest, the Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River from invasive/exotic plant species that are threatening the biodiversity of these special natural resources.
Come and learn how to identify invasive/exotic plants, understand their impact and even how to control them in your own yard, all while enjoying time with a diverse group of volunteers. Then join in removing invasive/exotics along the French Broad River by pulling, cutting or chain-sawing (for those who are certified) in the Hot Springs area. The effects of invasive plants can render land unproductive and incur massive drain on economic prosperity. They have been described by some as the greatest threat to forest biodiversity in the United States by disrupting and disturbing the natural ecosystem.
WHAT: Invasive/exotic plant education and removal
WHEN: September 23, 24 and 25; September 29, 30 and October 1*
*Arrive at 7:45 a.m. Spend eight hours or more to be eligible for a T-shirt and prizes. Half-day options also available.
HOW: To register, please contact: Lindsay Major, Equinox Environmental, 828.253.6856 lindsay@equinoxenvironmental.com
WHO: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA), Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere (SAMAB), the National Park Service, the USDA Forest Service, and Equinox Environmental from Asheville, NC. Made possible by a grant from the National Forest Foundation.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Julie Judkins, Appalachian Trail Conservancy: 828.254.3708 jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org For more information about the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, please visit www.appalachiantrail.org Bob Gale, Western North Carolina Alliance: 828.258.8737 bob@wnca.org For more information about the Western North Carolina Alliance, please visit www.wnca.org
Blue Ridge Greenways Conference
Land-of-Sky Regional Council, with the help of many local and regional organizations and advocates, is coordinating a regional conference on best practices and successful models for planning, designing, funding and building greenways. The Blue Ridge Greenways Conference will be held in Asheville, at the Grove Park Inn, on November 12-13, 2005. It will feature greenways and experts from Western North Carolina and other areas. We hope to attract over 100 citizens, planners and local officials to this two-day conference.
The conference is focused on best practices, beginning and sustaining greenway efforts, and partnerships. It has sessions for beginners through seasoned professionals and for those from both rural and urban areas. This conference will bring people together and give them an understanding and appreciation of the important roles greenways play in the transportation network, in protecting water quality, in economic development and improving community life. Attendees will increase their capacity to plan, fund, develop and build greenways.
Funding for the conference is being provided by the Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the French Broad River MPO, NCDENR’s Adopt-A-Trail grant program and local sponsors.
For more information, see our conference brochure which includes the agenda and registration information. It is available on Land-of-Sky Regional Council’s website: http://www.landofsky.org/downloads/greenwayconference.pdf . We have some great speakers and sessions planned. I hope you can attend! Linda Giltz, AICP Regional Land Use and Transportation Planner Land-of-Sky Regional Council www.landofsky.org 25 Heritage Drive, Asheville, NC 28806 Tel: 828-251-6622 x109 Fax: 828-251-6353
Roaring Fork Shelter Construction
Five of us went in Sat and Sun and got the construction up to
being ready to put the ridge log in place. This will be the last major
construction log to put up. Remaining is the purlins, roof sheathing and then
the roof. Two more two day trips should get us close to finishing the shelter.
We will still have other things to do to complete the entire site. Howard
McDonald
Join Us! Learn, Volunteer, Educate
Come and help us in protecting our National Forest, the Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River from invasive exotic plants that are threatening the biodiversity of our special natural resources. Learn the impacts of invasive exotic plants, how to control them in your own yards, plant identification as well as have some FUN with a diverse group of volunteers. We will be removing invasive exotics along the French Broad River by pulling, cutting or chain sawing (for those who are certified) in the Hot Springs area.
When: Join us for one or more of the following days: September 23, 24, and 25, September 29, 30 and October 1, Join us 8 hours or more and receive a T-shirt! Come for PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS! We will have coffee and donuts ready for you at 7:45am! Training begins at 8am. Volunteers are asked to donate 8 hours of time. If you prefer, half-day options are available.
What we will provide: · Training and identification on the TOP 12 UNWANTED plants · Methods of control · Safety training · Training on all tools · An opportunity to practice removal techniques · Snacks, coffee, donuts and lots of water! SIGN ME UP! For Further Questions and Registration, Contact: Julie Judkins at ATC, Phone: 828-254-3708, Email: jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org Julie Judkins, Program Assistant & Office Manager for the Southern Regional Office, 160A Zillicoa Street, P.O. Box 2750, Asheville, NC 28802, 828-254-3708, 828-254-3754 FAX jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org
Great Old Broads to protest proposed North Shore Road By Becky Johnson • Smokey Mountain News • Staff Writer
The Great Old Broads for Wilderness are coming to Bryson City in September for a week of hiking and camping and protesting against the proposed North Shore Road that would traverse the southern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Great Old Broads are a national group of mostly senior citizen women with the mission of protecting wilderness areas for their grandchildren’s generation.
Every year the Great Old Broads for Wilderness bring attention to wild areas in need of protection by “Broadwalking” across them. Broads from throughout the country gather together with local wilderness advocates to learn about and hike over threatened lands.
The Great Old Broads — far from the stereotypical radical environmentalist — say they are uniquely positioned to capture public attention for threatened areas.
“We’re an anomaly in the environmental activist area. Our approach in this endeavor is the use of a sense of humor and our well-aged grace,” according to the Great Old Broads web site. “As life-long nurturers and care-givers, the Great Old Broads’ approach is one of perseverance and determination, rather than militancy and contentiousness.”
The Great Old Broads for Wilderness formed in 1989 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. While the group is predominantly comprised of older women, there are Broads of all ages and both genders in every state.
The Broadwalk will be held Sept. 22 through 26. The Great Old Broads will camp outside the park in the Deep Creek area. In addition to hiking the area, speakers from the community, environmental groups and the park service will talk about the proposed road and its history.
The proposed road would be about 25-miles and would be inside the southern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the shore of Fontana Lake. A road once connected Bryson City to Tennessee but portions were flooded when Fontana Lake was created in the 1940s. The government promised to build the road back but never has, leaving Bryson City hemmed in by public lands. Congressman Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, got $16 million to do the extensive environmental studies that are required for building a road through a national park. The park service will make a yeah or nay decision on the road based on the studies, which could come out this fall. Taylor, a road supporter, is chair of the committee that controls the park service’s budget and could influence the decision. Regardless of the park service’s decision, however, Congress would still have to appropriate the money to build the road and environmental groups are already preparing their lawsuits to stop it.
The Broads plan to hold a media event to express what they call outrage over the consideration of the road through the park.
Anyone is welcome to join the Broadwalk. The cost is $125. For more information call 970.385.9577 or go to www.greatoldbroads.org .
Other Miscellaneous Information
Southern Environmental Law Comments on North Shore
NC AT License Tag Committee Meeting Minutes
April RPC Committee Meeting Minutes
ATC Comments on North Shore EIS
SMHC-ATC-ATPO 07/02/05 Meeting
ATC Position Statement on Interstate 3
GATC Position Statement on Interstate 3
