Tract Adjacent to Grassy Ridge on Roan Mountain now Protected

Tract Adjacent to Grassy Ridge on Roan Mountain now Protected

Friday, February 15, 2013

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This week the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy announced the recent purchase of a 601-acre tract of land that will protect areas adjacent to Grassy Ridge on Roan Mountain.

At the very end of December 2012, SAHC purchased the tract at Grassy Ridge in Avery County, NC, adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest and near the Appalachian Trail. This incredible tract borders one of the highest ridges of the Southern Appalachians, and has been one of SAHC’s top conservation priorities for four decades - due to its size and location within a large network of high elevation protected lands.

At its northern boundary, the tract takes in the crest of Grassy Ridge where it joins Pisgah National Forest, and at the southern end the property joins a tract owned by the State of NC in the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area. This newly protected Grassy Ridge tract consists of a large, forested bowl within three ridges: Grassy Ridge, Big Roan Ridge, and Martin Ridge. It lies in the view shed of the Appalachian Trail, the Overmountain Victory Trail, and other locations in the Highlands of Roan.

SAHC's purchase of the tract permanently protects pristine water quality and globally significant plant & animal habitat, and will enable biological research, contributing to large-scale management of the core Roan landscape. One of the largest concentrations of rare species and communities in the state are found on Grassy Ridge and the adjoining habitats of Roan. The Roan Mountain Important Bird Area and the Roan Massif Significant Natural Heritage Area cover the property, and hundreds of acres of high elevation old fields form a wonderful swath of bird habitat, prime for Golden-winged warblers. Headwater tributaries of Roaring Creek originate on the tract – wild trout waters that flow into the North Toe River.

For more information on the purchase, please click here.

The hike out to Grassy Ridge, along the Appalachian Trail, is one of my favorite hikes in the entire Southern Appalachians region. If you've never had the pleasure of hiking it, I highly recommend spending a half day soaking in the incredibly beautiful views. For more information about the hike, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Volunteer Opportunity at Cataloochee Ranch This Weekend

Volunteer Opportunity at Cataloochee Ranch This Weekend

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and Nature Valley (Preserve the Parks) are partnering with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to improve song bird habitat and protect water quality on the scenic and historic Cataloochee Ranch in Haywood County, North Carolina this Saturday. Cataloochee Ranch is a three-generation, family-run operation that has protected more than 300 acres of high elevation land adjoining Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Over the course of 2011, partner groups helped volunteers and crew members remove almost 45 acres of invasive plants within and adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Native tree seedlings were also planted along the banks of waterways flowing into the Park to improve water quality and safeguard four federally protected native fish species — the Spotfin Chub, the Duskytail Darter, the Smoky Madtom and the Yellowfin Madtom.

In 2012, volunteers plan to expand their focus with these projects:

* Work in conjunction with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to support habitat restoration on 500 acres of private land adjacent to the Park.

* Attract migratory songbird populations by feathering the forest edge of high-elevation pastures.

* Rehabilitate and repair the damage to landscape caused by foraging wild hogs.

* Continue to remove invasive, non-native vegetation like Oriental Bittersweet, multiflora rose, privet and garlic mustard, among others.

* Work with the American Chestnut Foundation to reintroduce native Chestnut trees into the Southern Appalachian landscape.

For this restoration event, volunteers will enhance habitat for migratory song birds by feathering the forest edge along pasture boundaries and removing invasive plant species. Volunteer groups will also focus on improving a section of a popular horse and hiking trail (Tom’s Stand Trail) to help protect water quality adjacent to the park.

The volunteer opportunity is this Saturday, July 28th, from 9:00 a.m . – 2:00 p.m. For directions to Cataloochee Ranch or to register as a volunteer, please contact Margot Wallston at (828) 253-0095 ext. 212 or margot@appalachian.org by Thursday, July 26th.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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SAHC purchases land in the Highlands of Roan

SAHC purchases land in the Highlands of Roan

Friday, June 18, 2010

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The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy recently announced the purchase of 62.5 acres in the Roaring Creek Valley of the Roan Highlands, thus preserving Golden-winged Warbler habitat, scenic views from the Appalachian Trail, and waterfalls.

SAHC purchased the two tracts of land using a $95,000 grant awarded under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, along with bridge loans and a private donation. The two tracts totalled more than $500,000.

The land includes 50 acres of rare neotropical migratory bird habitat.

The conservation group was one of 37 organizations chosen throughout the Western Hemisphere to receive funding, which totaled more than $4.9 million in 2010.

The organization plans to sell the land to the U.S. Forest Service for inclusion in the Pisgah National Forest, which already shares a mile long boundary with the tracts.

In addition to protecting the scenic views from the Appalachian Trail, the Overland Mountain Victory National Historic Trail passes through the two tracts.

Also, in 2007, Backpacker Magazine named the Roaring Creek Valley as the most scenic valley in America. Please click here to read the full press release.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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