June 7, 2006

        Please send me your hiking news, hike and maintenance reports by Monday evening before the newsletter comes out, that is, by Monday evening June 19 to Danny Bernstein danny@hikertohiker.org. Include your email address at the end of your story. Thank you.

What's Happening the Next Two Weeks

In the next two weeks, go on at least one hike, weedwack your section of trail, write a letter or send an email on a conservation issue or adopt a new piece of trail ...

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Slogan Contest.

Write a slogan for our club that describes CMC and what our club is all about. We are a club that maintains trails, leads hikes and promotes conservation of the trails, National Forest and Parks in our area. A catchy one or two line phrase is what we are looking for. So get creative and submit your entry no later than September 30 !! Send your entry by e-mail to backpacker54nc@bellsouth.net or by mail to CMC, PO Box 68, Asheville, NC 28802, Attn: Chip Miller. The winning slogan writer will receive a $100 gift certificate to Diamond Brand.

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Adopt a piece of the MST

NC 215 to Devil’s Courthouse Junction
Buckspring Tral Junction to Pisgah Inn
Glassmine Overlook to Balsam Gap Overlook
Rainbow Gap to NC 128
A section from Highway 74A to the BRP Headquarters(Trail Spur).
If you are interested contact donwalton@bellsouth.net

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2006 AT Southern Regional Multi-Club Campout on Sept. 1 to Sept. 4 (labor Day Weekend)

Three days of hiking and camping in Nantahala National Forest, hosted by the Nantahala Hiking Club. See http://www.maconweb.com/nhc/ for all details.

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Price for Shuttle across Fontana Marina has increased!

Are you planning a backpack from Hazel Creek? Maybe an easy family walk from Eagle Creek to Hazel Creek on the Lake Shore Trail? A shuttle from the Fontana Marina across Fontana Lake is now $25 - one way - per person. This has been confirmed by your editor with a face-to-face conversation with the people behind the desk at the Marina. Phillips and Jordan, a road construction company, originally from Robbinsville bought the Marina and Fontana Village.

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Linda Beja is moving to Alaska! Come and say goodbye

For all of those who would like to go with her but can’t and also those who would like to tell her goodbye, we are going to have a party to celebrate. The party will be at my house at 6pm on Saturday July 8th. Please bring a covered dish to share. Beer, wine, soft drinks and paper products will be provided. Please RSVP to: donwalton@bellsouth.net by July 5th. Driving directions will be provided.Don Walton

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House Approves Austere Interior Bill; Senate Action Needed

-     $500,000 cut to the National Park Service (NPS), Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program;

-     Essentially level funding for Forest Service Recreation and a $1.6 million cut for Capital Improvement and Maintenance for Trails;

-     $2 million increase for  Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation Management. This includes a crucial $1 million increase to assist management of units of the National Landscape Conservation System; -     Zero funding for the stateside Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which received $30 million last year. The bill includes $58.8 million, a severe $56 million cut for the federal LWCF program; and

-     Increased funding for operations, maintenance, and construction for several national scenic and historic trails administered by the NPS, Forest Service, and BLM.

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Cell Tower Debate is not over

We need to be aware that this issue might raise its ugly head again in the southern Appalachians generally and the Smokies specifically.
National Geographic - May 31, 2006

Cell Phone Towers in U.S. Parks Dial Up Debate by Jennifer Cutraro

The jarring ring of a cell phone deep in the wilderness is many a nature lover's worst nightmare.

But it's a scenario that may become more common in the United States as wireless-communication companies expand their reach into national parks and other protected lands.

In March 2005 officials at Yellowstone National Park (see photos) met privately with several telecommunications companies to develop a future wireless plan for the park, including cell phone towers.

Yellowstone already has six towers in five locations, and wireless industry representatives are reportedly calling for more. See http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/060531-cell-phones.html for the complete article.

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Conservation

Should the upper part of the Chattooga be open to kayakers?

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Your chance to save the water quality in Fontana Lake

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources on behalf of the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) Public Hearing regarding Reclassification of selected tributaries from the north shore of Fontana Lake. Written comments must be received by July 14, 2006 and should be sent to:
Elizabeth Kountis
Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Division of Water Quality, Planning Section
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 276991617
phone (919) 7335083, extension 369
fax (919) 7155637
Elizabeth.Kountis@ncmail.net

Background

Session Law (SL) 2005­0097 directed that “The Environmental Management Commission shall initiate a rule­ making proceeding…to adopt rules to reclassify the entire watersheds of all creeks that drain to the north shore of Fontana Lake between Eagle and Forney Creeks, including Eagle and Forney Creeks, as outstanding resource waters…” The purpose of these rule amendments would be to provide supplementary protection for the resources and quality of the subject waters. According to the bill, these creeks ‘…may provide habitat for federally and State­ listed endangered species…”, “are renowned for exceptional trout fishing…”, and “…water quality for Forney Creek documents that the creek has excellent water quality…” Water quality studies conducted in August 2005 show that the waters proposed to be reclassified meet Class ORW criteria.

Speaking Points for Comments (provided by SELC)
· The streams subject to this reclassification enjoy some of the finest water quality in the state.  Many of these streams are highly prized trout fisheries and recreational waters and all of these streams are important to the integrity of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

· The North Carolina legislature, by directing the Environmental Management Commission to reclassify these streams as outstanding resource waters, required the EMC to take steps necessary to protect the outstanding resource values of these waters including their pristine water quality, significant trout fisheries, and importance as components of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

· Previous experience in and around the Park demonstrates that the water quality standards in the draft rule are necessary to protect these streams from contamination and acid drainage generated when the geology of these watersheds is disturbed.

· Because water quality in these streams is already threatened by high rates of acid rain in the Park and naturally-occurring acid runoff, exceptional care is needed to protect the water quality of these streams from additional acid runoff created by human activities. 

· The additional standards identified by the draft rule are necessary to protect against the threat of acid-producing rocks to water quality in these watersheds and to conserve important aquatic habitat by controlling stormwater runoff and maintaining the unique hydrology of these watersheds. 

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