TENNESSEE CITIZENS for WILDERNESS PLANNING
NewsletterNo. 228 June21,1999 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1. Obed: ONRW designation at last 1! P· 3 2. Big South Fork: two bad proposals ...... , , , , , , •.. , • , • , . , , , p. 3 A. GMP draft fails to restrict ATVs B. Jumping the gun on roads and trails C. Changes in Park administration C. New River tributary impoundment
3. What happened to bills in the State legislature 7 . .. , , ...... p. 5 A. Forestry: 1 of 4 goes partway B.Land-acquisition fundswithstand attack C. Natural Areas added D. Budget impacts E. Litter study: stuck in committee
4, Tennessee state parks issues ...... p. 6 A. Fall Creek Falls LUMP: still waiting B. Attacks on Cumberland Trail SP C. Frozen Head: still hoping D. State Parks Forum, Aug. 28 E. Park planning
5. Other state public lands issues ...... p. 1 A. Acquisition process improves B. Natural Areas now total 58 C Scotts Gulf celebration July 11 D. OHV users want access to public lands E. Smith Bend WMA? F. State won't donate Moccasin Bend to NPS ·yet
6. State water issues .... P· 8 A. Watershed Workshops start July 1 B. Our dwindling water supplies C. Status of Tennessee water quality D. Permits under Clean Water Act
1. Smokies and Cherokee ...... p. 10 A. "Appalachian Wilderness Walk" B. Agencies to assess forest resources C. AQ agreement signed D. Transportation issues E. SAMI and SAMAB
8. Tennessee Valley Authority ...... , . , . , . , , , ...... p.ll A. SMI adopted (with change TCWP recommended) B. Watershed Teams C. Agricultural licenses rethought D. Duck River lands E. New institute
9. Brief national capsules ...... p. · A. Short-short action calls (Redrock wilderness,ESA, ANWR) B. e-mail alerts
10. TCWP news ...... p. 13 A. Board B. N.Ridge Trail C. Urban Forestry grant D. Slide show is ready E. Annual Mtg plans F. e-mail network G. Pub!.Lands Day H. March for Parks 11. Events calendar; resources ..... p.15 12. ACTION SUMMARY .... p. 2
Editor: Ulnt B. RQsstil,130 To�borRoo�d, Olk Ridgt,1N 3783(). Phont, W-482-2153 Shaded boxor .JWmtul!i"Action Ntflltd." Don'tbe overwhtlmed- dt«ktht Aen ON SUMMARY on p.2! -�.
NL228,&'2L99 2 12 ACTION SUMMARY
"Muuge!" or Action
2A Big S. FQrk GMP NPS planningteam "Keep!arzeponions of Adjacent Arca olf·Limlts to ATVs!"'
2B £AoopiOJIO(Cd101105andltllil BSFNRRA-bx...1l.Ul22 ..Don'tjumptheg llllonGMPandRoads.lTBilsPlan!�
Sl&tebills insesdonjUSiendro VariouslcJiSiatOn(5«,3) 1banbforwbat)'OIIdid! Tryagaill�tyear!""
Filii Cn:dtFalls LUMP V.P.Gore: US $COS. andrep. �All $olrlpmininc in Part"swatm.halmUSIbebanncd!
•c Frw.tt�Hcadadditioo Gov.Sundquist: WallerBut� -Aaplirebild ly nccdc:dsurrounding land Park!"
SA State"s laOO-a<:quisllionpnx-es$ WalterButler, TDEC '"lbanksforlmprovlngproces.s;addoonservationist t opanel!" l£ Sm itbBendWMA FoothillsConservancy -SendInformation'"! me
1A l'ftrKirby'sWiklernes6Walk TCWP Atlelldtalk. JoinllikeooAT.
BC TVA'u:rlculturatliocmcs RubenHemande�
9A Pendingfederallegislallon us�nat()l"$&reps
lOB NorthRidge Trailstewardship TCWP Volun ta:rfortrailstewanlship
IOD TCWPslide!obow TCWP Amlnge forsllo wing 10yourcivk dub, dlurdl, scbool, etc.
IOF TCWPe-ma.i.l nctwoft TCWP Seodus)'OII"e-maillddress
SenatorJohn Doc ThcHon.JohnDoe �s. BillClinton OovemorDon SIII\dquist UnitedStateSSeflate U.S. Hou� of Repre�ntatives TheWhite Hou� State Capitol Was.blngton,OC20SIO Washington, DC 20�1� Was.bina:ton. DC 20500 Nas.bville,TN 37243·9!72 202-4S6-Illl;F!U4S6-246l 6l5-74l-2001;Fu53M711 [email protected].&OV
DearCOil&fCSS111311Doc DearMr. Presidcnt DearGov. Sundquist Sincady)'OOI"S. Re$peCI!uUyyoun., �uUyyours.
Sen.BiiiFrist: Sm.FTedTIIompson: Rep..ZadlWamp: I'll: 202-224-3344; FAX: 202·22.8·1261 Pb: 202·224-4944;FAX: 2Q2-22J!-3679 Phone: 202-22�·3271 e-mail: scnatorJris.lfitfrist.selllle.cov e-mail: K:[email protected] l...ocal: 423-602-7977 Local: 423-545-4253 Local: 423483·3366 To callany Rep or Sena1or, dial Congrcr.siooa! switchboard, 202-224-3121. To find out about !bestatus ofb ills.,call 202-225·1772.
WHATISTCWP? TCWP(T- QtiuN for Wddente. PlaminglDdedia�to achi.evm&and �ltincprotec:tia n o Nhltallulcbandwatenbyrnt.�ntofpubl.ic�p,�on.ortoOpCI"8tl.onofthe.prlvate-.ctor. Whil� Wt"fintfoan:i•ontheC�.artbe::landandAJ'P'�ftli-oltiastT�oar effvnsDII)' e:lir:n4tothete��t o(the state lheud nttlon. tmngth TCWP'a in liaraem:N nsinformation to pertinent_m iwue.lnformi.ngand edumtingour membenhip .md t'h� publie.wi interadina lhgroup lui� tibj«tiveftlmitar , .M� throughtht leJialati ve, ada\il'li.rulive.and j11clicdl brancha oi aonm-nt ta the federal. �tate, adloc.a l level•. Contact information on v. 15 NL228,6/21/99 3
•• Oai!Dt DNilW Dll81GNATION study by the Corps of Engineers mhow be$! to AT LA8T t I improve regi onal water supply for Cumberland County. 1hi$ would continue the process started with the initial Corps study (NU26 11A) by The reason there is a question mark before the derennining which of the several innovative joyous udamiltion point is that this event is _ alternatives identified in the Prelimmary anticipated forthe moming after this Ntwsletter Engineering Report i5 most favorable for a Long· goes to the printer. However, the pros�� term solution. aonear certain that we are daring to pnnt thJS article.
80UTH ,OilKI TWO aAD AUthe lettersandcommunicaliOO$youAll&entto 2, •10 Pll0P08AL8 the WOlter Quality Control Board (WQCB) ln mponseto alerts m<>iled 10 TCWP, to our FotO {Friends of the a-1) network, iUld 10 NPCA A .••,. tlntf tlo•• not ,..trld ATV helptd tremendously. 1DEC COI:I"Iffiissioner ••• J./J.JtJ!l1J1lL out•ltla Go'8• Are• Hamilton, after becoming fully appriseC(li"IScionable that the ATV 3design.ation of this river until local cono:ems for restrictionhas nowabandoned. been � water-supply we� addressed,and we proposed a compi"OII\i5e. The designation that will now, WHAT YOU CANDO: Weneedto send a loud hopefully,be made mJme 22 decrees that there andclear,yet simple,messase betore thedraft can be no newsoun:eoof warer pollution (consistent GMPgets east in stone: the GMPIIII..ISl designate a with the National Park Service"s mandate to portion of the Adjacent Area that is kept off preserveournational parks>.mimpaired for fu � . limits to All Terrain Vehicles. Send a short generations); and, as noted above, the probabthty letter,postcard,ore-maililllfOOllas youcanto of a water-withdrawal challenge has become Acting Superintendent Mary Collier, BSFNR.RA, mudl more remote (4.564Leatherwood Rd., Oneida, TN31841;4l3- S69-9m;e-rnail The outlook for as alternative �gional water BlSO_Superintendentfmps.gov). Or e-mail to supply may be improved by a bill pending bill •ohn_fisclteritn S.II:OV.) Cmgress. The Water R2souro!S Development Act i) {probably soatiObepassed) authorizes a SSOO,OOO Nl228,6/2l/99 .
equipment Such roads further degrade the B. ••FNICRA }umpln8 tile 811" resource. It is questionable that even roefl •nrl tT•II rtev•lopm•llt 011 administrative roads are permissible in the We haven't got a QltlP ye t, leave alone a Gorge Area under the authorizing legislation, Roads&: Trails Plan, which must and be follow, especiallyif their m�jor use is for such motorized consistent with, the GMP. But, rather than vehides as graveltrucksand bulldozers awaiting these important, successive, planning steps, the BSFNRRA administration has just The Roads &: Trails Plan should, and proposed development of a major multipurpose hopefully will, contain not only a plan for (horse) trail Specifically disturbing is the plan locating trails but also a policy al trail to make this trail accessible by being roads construction. Such aPlan should be able to review v;tended&omthe eastern boundary for several the newest environmentally sensitive techniques miles into thePark . Altogether 8.8 miles of horse that are being developed, will have public input trail wouldbe completed,along with 2.75miles and critical review, and, above all should put a of accessroads,atleast oneof which extends into priority (S'I preserving the natural resource, Envirorunental Assessment(EA) IM goTg�. An rather thanwconstructingtrails in a way that ni!pared,with adeadline ofJuly13for = saves work for the maintenance crews. To proceed with amajorroadand trail development prior to adoption of a Roads & Trails Plan appears to Quite apart flom the merits or faults of the violate every National Park Service principle specificproposal, it appears tousto violate soW"Id Park Servi� Planning practices to push a particularproject-and afairlymajor one at that WHATYOUCANDO: Thisisimportant!Befoni! July13, amment al the EA for the proposed - before a total plan has bem formulated and administrative roads associated with an scrutini.w.:l flom all angles. This project was e;.:tensive horse trait. The simplemessage is: do promoted under me superintendent (Let> Davis) and, according to the EA, was ""halted during a notproceed prior toadoption ofanoverall Roads & Tr s Plan that examines not only road and change inpark administration"" (namely, during ail the ten\lni! of Rolland Swain, when it was trail locations but .also construction methods. properly considered that the general Roads&: Contact Acting Superintendent Mary Collier, BSFNRRA, Leathe.wood Rd., Oneida, TrailsPia.nshould rome first, Ed.). Presently, ro 4564 TN permanent superintendent isinplace. 37841; 423-569-9778; e-m�il [email protected]). The problem is compounded by the m11nn�r in which horse trails have been constructed in the C. Cll•,.••• Ill l'•rlr •rlmllll•tr•tlon BSFNRR.A(NL22612B). Manywerelaid out as Following the retirement of former steep roads,instead ofastrue trails, which have Superintendent Rolland Swain. Mary Collier was switchbacks, water-bars, etc. Moreover, they named Acting Superintendent for the BSFNRRA. wen! covered with ""gravel"" usually crushed Ms. Collier is Superintendent at Cumberland Gap limestone, which the maintenance staff claims NatiOnal_ Historical Park and must share her diminishes needed upkeep. (The horse riders time betweenthe two units. Judyiberg. who was don't like this, and neither do the occasional Assistant Superintendent under Ro!land Swain, hikers. either). This gravel does notcompact (u has remained in this position. Sue Jennings is the it would if it weni!to receivevehicular use), but newChief of ResourceManagement erodes down the slopes into the streams. Creek beds that should be bare sandstone, are row D. N•w "'"•' trlllut•ry lmpounrlm•nt covered with crushed limestone and mud, The Huntsville Utility District is proposing to undoubtedlyaffecting the aquatic biota. Horse enlarge an impoundment (S'I Flat Creek, a trails also ford streams after steep desce'ltsthat tributary of New River Mile l4.5R, north of further cflum up the grour.:l. Until fairly Huntsville. This tributary enters the New River recently, horse trails were built bulldozer-wide about 7 river miles upstream of the BSFNRRA D..ring Rolland Swain's tenure, smaller boW"Idary. The utility cummtly uses a water equipment was proc\l.rt'd, and the trails are row intake at New Ri�er Mile 14.5to augment water not quite sowide. However, the administrative supplyfrom !IS exJ.Stmg reservoir (1.3 MGD max) roads that are being proposed in the EA would This intake would remain in place, even after the bring in large truck·loads of gravel to be reservoir is enlarged,tobeavailable if'"future dispersed to the smaller trail-building watersupplyneeds dictate" Nl228 ,6/21/99 5
3. WHAT HAI'PeNI!D TO BILU IN THI! • 58 1754 {Kyle)/HB 1570 {Curtiss), SOCM's aTATI! LI!OI8LATURI!f F.cc.-.omiclncentives Bill, passed the full Senate ona21 :3vote.This measure requirutheState to wtdertakt a forest-resou�usessrnent prior to A. Fo,.•try-,.l•t•fl IIIII• - granting economic incentives for wood-products • IIUI• •ncour•••"'•"' industries. Sen. Kyle was a great spokesperson Our EAf lobbyist, Erin KeUy, reports that the for the bill and worked hard for il$ pnsage. In issue of what is happening to o.uc fortSts was the HOU§l', it paSH"d the Conservation &: clearly the big.gest environmental issUO!cr D. 8ufl••' lmp•ct• •SB 804 {Cohen)/HB 1389 (O::Iom), the Sierra After the Legislature defeated Gov. Oub"sState forests Bill, 11/nrosl made it. The Sundquist's tax proposals thatwouldhave raised committee voted a 5:5 tie, but the chairm Conservation (lDEC) that we considered g«:d awaited, but may not be made until late fall. The � was the elimination of hmding for 4 golf third public COliUnent period m the LUMP (Land COlliSeS(this me carried). Ammg bad news were Unsuitable for Mining Petition) dosed April 26, proposed$$ reduction5for State Natural Areas, and the State, after outlining its position last Clean Water revolving fund, and a specific July,�nt!yconcluded aseries of meetings with $279,500 to beart from Cumberland Trail State the federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM). Park (CTSP, se.!148, this NL). In the end, raoe These discussionshave alsoindudedthe dean-up of these were implemented. of e�isting abandoned (and polluting) mined lands in the watershed. Conservationists have The proposed cut for the CI"SP raised a exprt!ssed ccnoe:m that such a �dean-upn might particularly strong storm of opposition from involve re-mining,adangerousprocess that is individuals and organizations,especia!lyso since likely to disturb the highly to�ic Sewanee coal an additional $100.000of a matching fOW"ldation seam and is under even less IeS'J-Iatory control grantwou!d alsobelost, essentially killing the than is original mining. entire project. TCWPinformed key legislators that the CI"SP was being generated through a The ultimate outcome will W1doubtedly be private/public partnership, that t8,()()()houn; of made at high governmental levels, and your volunteertime had alreadybeerlexpended.that opinionsand comment!; should bedirected there notonlythe maintrailwouldbe affected but also (se.!box,below). Your message can be very short connecting links to community greenways - nSupport the Fall Creek Falls LUMP!" - but, if (including me to Oak Ridge), etc. Within an you need morebackground,see NL223 11, NL22S hour, Sen. Randy McNaUy responded to say that 13,or NL226 13C) the proposal had beer! amended to be a non Sp�cific cut from IDEC's budget, and that the WHATYOU CAN DO: First andforemost, call CTSP would survive. We don't yet ! OTHeR STATe PUaLIC LANDa c. Froaett He•tl •tltlltlott - S. 1aauu •till ltopltt8 The Fortstland Group,which purchued the land ad}aetr�t to Frozen Head State Park ll\d A. ltate'• le,.tl·•c411l•ltlon proc••• N�l\lral Aru � No�ber 19'97, a� apparently lmll'•"•tl shll inte�sted�ns.elling about 3200•c�s to the [Contribut�byEritiJ(etlyJ 5tate of Tennessee, but the company wu awaiting Possibly as a result of pressurefrom a pending the fate of the state budget(130, thi$ NL) btfo� bill (Odom/Kyle) th11t would dired a change in deciding how to approachthe transaction. There the State's land-acquisition process, IDEC(Tenn ill ever-increasing competition for ever-�rinking Dllpt. of Envt. & Conservation) announced that i 1 stile I.Cq\lillition funds. We must therefore is overhauling the process to add flexibility and continue tneounging policy maken to add the citizen involvement. Regular meetings are badly needed acreage toFro:ten Head. scheduled,withtht agendaposted in advance 58 designated State Natural Att'ilS includes 17 miles of shoreline,aboutl,OOOacres of wetlands added during tht Sundquist administration, (ooe of the la.rgest wetland areas in East whkh hu al5o made add-ons to e!Usting uus T�),and steep upla.nds,thepeniruula provides 1 la.rge variety of habitats. The c. •c•U• Gulf colobr•flo1t ., July f7 property has had several corponteowners,mo5t OlSepternbt>r 3, 1998, Bridgestone/Fi.restone recently the Mead Corp., which wu pla..Ming to i donated 4,000of its -15,000acres in and &I'OI.Ind build • paper mill. Thearea is rurrmtly bt fls ScottsGulfto theStateofT�{NL22412A, leased as1 priva.te h\lllting pre5erve. Mead decided to locate plat in Alabama and to Nl..225 14C). A dedication cen>mony and the celebration willbtheld in a bunmthe property �11Smith Ber>d. o:n July 17, n a.m. COT, hosted by the Teu"L Wildlife ResouKes Agency (which row Ina deal negotiat� by the COI'\Sol'rvation fund, administers the land),the Friends ofScotts Gulf, Mead will �II for 56.9 million (th1t's still about the Conservation Fund (which facilitated the S2,800/acl1!) to theTennesseeWildlife Resources gift), and others. There will btopportunities to Agency (fWRA), which will c-ommit spending view the gorgt from B!!Uitd's Roost overlook, the equivalent of 2 years' of State Wetland andto get down to tht river. Take US 70 west of Acquisition Fund money (altogether about $5 Crossville to DeRossett; then Mowbeny Rd, million). Tht Foothills C01'15ervancyhu offered s.outhof town,for6-7miles. ScottsGulf road is en to pitch in the remaining $1.9 mi11ion, to be the right. For more info, call Btt'nda Cardwell, rai.sedover2ye1rs. 1Vo/RA plans to manage the 931-836-3552. area both as a refuge and If a wildlife management area, with programs for hunting, D. Pr•••uro from OHV u•or• fishing, wildlife ob$ervation, educ1tion, During public mtetings held inMarchl998o:n research,hiking and photography. the TNGreenways and Trails Plan, about l/3 of the-400 partidpants represented motorU:edtrail WHATYOU CANDO:To leammol1!about the (Off Highway Vehicle) users. That lobby is a project,to or make a donation.,c:ontKt. the strongone andhu been heard from since. They Foothills land Conserv111cy,614 Sev"'rville Rd., complain that restrictiotUi en both private and Maryville, iN 37804;42J..681-8326 public lan ds curtail their riding opportunities, andthey claim rights of accessto publklar>ds. P. Will Mocc••'" ••"" •• •tltlotl Stateparksand naturalaf"l'uban them (see14B, to Notlon•l P•rlf •y•tom1 this NL); state fNests pennit them; and TWRA Addition of the 1,400-acreMoa:asin Bend (in permits them en specified wildlife &tt'as under the Tft'UloeSSet River) to the Chiclr.amauga & special rules. They Will\ a State OHV trail CN.ttanooga National Military Park was progr.un.and Miltdollus to manage or maintain authorized.SO years ago. However, the tract was OHV rf;'(Cn!ation, arguing that motorized acquired by stateand localgO\"tmJToentsand is re<:ft&tion providtsKOfiOIIlic/touristbenefits,and the location of a state mental-health hospital that lAck of 1 managed and controUed OHV The state has not agreed to donate the a.rea to program may tnc:reaseenvir OI'Illltntal impacts of NPS at this time,but s-ay• it will rHXamint the cunent practiees. OHV .f()]utions and strategies issue when the hospital is roo longer functional. will bt included in the u TNGreenways pc Tennessft an ov�rview of just whill it Ide$ to Conservation,Division ol Water Supply. A � ach.i�v� long-term pis of Wilier � pro;tct designed. to idmtify threats to �very protection. 1M focus will be m issues that hav� water supply in the stale been of concern to local watershed groups. 8:2G-8:40 Natural � Cot�Servation Everyone - from members of like, watershed, Sc>rvice Programs: Chip Ramsey. NRCS and homeowners illiSOCiations to individual programs that address land we:sin addition to citizens -- can learn how to get more involved in agriculturalimprov�m�nts. working together to solve water quillity 8:4G-9:00 Question and Answer Sc>ssion: all problems. Sponsored by TV A, the University of agencyNpn!:sentatives will answerquestions. Tenne-ssee Water Resources Research Cmter,Kno:o; County Soil Conservation Dilitrict,!jam's Natur� The following is a brief outline of workshops Cmter, T� Citizens for Wilderness 12, 3,and 4. (Space is limited for all but Pluu\ing, and the T� Clean Water workshopfl. To Jign up,or learn ll"IOreabout the Network. the free workshops wiD be led by workshops,contact TomMcDonough. TVA Clean uperts in the field ol watershed improvernmt Water Initiative, Phone(423)632-1424 Fax632- and ane designed to provide non-technical l623,e-INiil: [email protected]) information to il general audience. Puticipilnts 12. Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Brookhaven Fann in willn.ve ample opportunities to a$kquestionsof Seymour: hands-on water-quality sampling (of thosenepre5entingvarious�agendes,wi11 Nails Creek) and waterMled illi�ssment see techniques demonstrated in the field, and 113.Late fall, Strategic Planning for Watershed willtake home hand-outs designed to help them Improvement: how to harness limited re50I.lKeS to apply what they've leamed chart a path for putting people and mmey to work. Assessment information colle<:ted at the At the first workshop, participants will previo us workshop will be used to plan an obtain an overview of state ;md Ieder�! water improvement Jm'tKt to be implemented m Nails ltilOli1Ce improvnnent programs,and will lum Creek. how they can access these programs and benefit 114. Spring 201Xl,FW1ding: how to research potential fromthem. Th��tthree workshops will fundingscuroesand write�grants. guide pilrticipants through the procti5 of Participants may develop a strategy for their assessing a stream or watershed, selecting and own waterdled. planr.irlg a prote<:t,;mdsecuringfundingfor the proftct. B. 011r tlwltullln• w•t•r •11ppll•• 1M eastern USA, including T�. is tON Wgrhhpp 11 July 11999 6:30 p.m.-9:00p.m., finallyb-ecoming aware of what hasbeen a fact of !jams Nature Center, 29151sland Hom� Avenue in life in the West for a longtime: water supply is Kno:o;ville. finite o.u- ongoing story about how the 6:30-6:45 Registration and refreshments Cumberland County water supply affects ct.ed 6:45-7:00 Introduction:Tom McDonough. TVA designation (11) Is a good example. Several 7:00-7:20 The Clean Water Action Plan: r::rc.. other Coutlties,too,hal-'e water-supply proposals Becker, TVA. CWAP integrates the �!forts of featuring somewhat similar dilemmas. The stat� and federal agencies and will provide studies pt'rlormed. for Cumberland County, which incrused fundins; for watershed improvements. examine the feasibility of "non-traditional" Jmplications for citi:ums. water supplies{water consoervation,piping water 7:20-7:40 Tennesse.."s Water Quality Assessment from large �Kisling reservoU"s. water and Pollution Pnevmtion Program {TMDL): "harvesting"during high-nowperiods,etc.)may David Ouhl, Tenn. Dept. of Environment illld serve as models for other counties. Another Con5trvation, Division of Water Pollution remedy is consolidation of J"NI�"�eroUS individual Coatrol. TDEC has adopted a watershed watersupplies(suchas those provided byutility approach to protecting our state's streams and districts) into regional water authorities. lakes. 7:4G-8:00 Unified Watershed Assessment and Not only counties, but states have water Restoration Plan: Gn!g Upham, Tenn. Dept. of dispute$ and need coordinate-d planning. Th� Agriculturt'. How "Priority Watershed" w�re Tennessee River system, which eKtends into 7 selected; non-point souro> control program. a states,is a prime e:o;ample. The Southeast Water primarysourceoffunding. Supply Round�ble, to be held Nov. 8-10 for 8:00-8;20 Source WaterProtection Prognun: TaTI federal and state agency representatives as well M05$, Tenn. Dept. ol Environment and Nl'Ja 6/21/99 10 u � from i!Cildemia, will addrH$ the with Peter Kirby, who will present his "Southern region's SJl'Wirlg Wiltef'.supply need. Appalachian Wilderness Walk: A Hike to Protect the Wildb.nds of the Appalachian C. •tat•• of watar �uallty Trail.' The recently Nleased. $0 the states (which issue permits for potentially constantly being updated and will be made poUuting ,_. industrial 1ctivities) and the available on Web links. lffe.:ted federal agencies. The agencies canthus identify potential problems early in the The neKI phase of SAMAB's work will tackle 3 permitting p� when modification or initiative$: native and e:.otic species, watershed resolution is s llti possible. protection. and sustainable development. For more information contact Robert 5. Turner, � April 7, T�'s Gov. Sundquist ll1d SAMAB, 314 Conferenc-e Center Bldg. U.T., North Carolina's Gov. Hunt's particiJn.ted ina Knoxville 37996-4134.423-974-4583. North Carolina Swnmit on MOW"Itain Air Quality and signed the ;oint permitting-procedures ag�ent for prote.:tion of C!ass-l areas. EPA a. TVA 188Ul!8 b!lieves that the summit may have opened a nPW chapter in southeastern cooperation a1 1ir A.. •horolln• M•n•••m•nt lnltlofllf• poUution issues. odoptod by 8oard (wltlt ch•n•• rocommandod by TCW"J � Earth Day, the Clinton Administration announced new regulitions that would restore Threeyea� have gone by since TVA offered its pre-industrial era air quality lo natiom.l puks, Shoreline Mamg=lent Initiative (SMI) and Draft wildemesses and other Class-1 areas. Starting EIS for extensive public �view. Following with the year 2003, states will hav.-. to generate numerouspublk meetings with much e�pressi.;.. of pollution-reduction plans (with methods left '4' opposition corning from various dire.:tions, TVA to the stat.-.s), and will have to demonstrate went back tothe drawingboard and, late last year, ligniliCaJ\t air-quality improvements every 10 came out with the rew NBiended Altunative" ynn, with a final deadlineo£ 2064 (N4..25 17B). With only one important change (see below), this wu 1dopted by the TVA Board m April21. P. '""••"••""• tran•portaflon •olt�flon• for th• •mold•• The Blended Alternative «'Sponds to what had hderal and state officials are in vestigating been TCWP's CllriCem about the original regional transportation planning. public 11\iljor proposal, namely a projected �uction in public transportation, innovative transport (e.g., lands. The Blended Alternative does not allow any ele.:tric car$ and trolleys), and stricter air increut in the amount of developed shoreline standards for car$. For ll"IOn' information, contact beymd the e�isting potential 38% system-wide NPS's Bob Miller (423-436-1208), a- IDEC's average (actually, only about 13% is currently Melanie Catania (615-532-Q'739). developed, but 38% might eventually be, underthe present ownership pattern). The original SMI E. .Aitfl and .AitfA. would have allowed this percentage toincrease to Starting this spring. Tennessee is the state 48% (and e�n 63% undl!r some alternatives) that is chairing SAMI, the Southern ApJn.lachian Mountain initiative. An exilmple of Ruid('ntial owners also got several concessions SAM! activiti.-.s was the rea'f\t Summit m under the Blended Alternative. Among those was a Mountain Air Quality (178, above). shrinking of the Shoreinel Ma.nagement Zone {SMZ), i.e., those TVA publk land$ through which ATftU"III'SSI'eiJ hn also assumed ak mx:.nmended thilt the �ltbeincrusedto50 feet. I'm confident that the staff hiS correctly analyud the merits of " 25-foot � However, doubling the size of the greenbelt w()O.l]d further D. •toto•• rolo '" Duck lf.l•or la•fl• prottctsthe Teru'lf!Ssee Riversystem.w TVA's recently publisMd Final Environmmtal Impact Statemmt (EIS) en the use of lands 8. TVA formo 1tOW rrotor•hod To•m• acquired for the Colwnbia Dam � of the TVA has combined the functions of its former Duck River Project selects a Preferred land Manapent Offices and its River A(tion Alternative, desig:nati!'d 0/C. Under this Teams. Operating within a new TVA Alternative, detcribed in some detail in NU27 organintion c11lled � Stew�rdship �II 16B, all of the land is transfJ:Orred tothe st�te of new multi-disciplinilry WatJ:Onhi!'d Teuns. The Tennessee,and acroge is assigned as follows; teamswill eng11ge in (a) �protection and •3,900 acres � Fount.ain Creek, reset'\led improvement, (b)shoreline management and land forw�ter·supply use, provided an � study I&Se,Uld (c) oulr WHAT YOU CAN DO: Send any oxnments to • America'• R�roo:k Wilderness (from NL227 R1b!n Hemandv: (TVA, 400 West Sw:nmit Hill 110C) Drive, Knoxville TN 37902·1499),with a copyto Someother Utah·wilderness-related legislative Richard TOI!I'Irlissoo, Envitorunental Scientist, and BI..M initialives maybe�to legislators and may make them think that � NL228,6/2l/99 13 sponsoringAmerka's Redrock Wilderness Actis • }151nyFreeiN-!1 will deput Oak. Ridge in August no lon ffim llfll. Definite! no so ! for ayeu of tnvel with herfiliiiily. She will, WHAT YOU CAN DO: .Urge your .enators and however, not depart from the Board but stay in �(<��ddtti&es...a� p.2) to tuppOtt the dose cooununialtion through f:·milil and Hlnchey-Dutbin Redrock Wildemes.s bill for tf:lephonf:. Utah. Stress the importan�of these �m.gnilicent • Jenny's position as ch,ir of the Parks Committee and very vulnerable ueas for the country as a will, during her •bsmce, be filled by Marcy Reed. =@s�dwhole, 11ndcite MY personal eKperieru:es you m•y there. For more info, (()fltact 8. North ltld•a Trail 11oofl• a rtow •toward [ConlributedbyEri<:Hirs!l Few cities hllve long. 5«1uded, tra.ils with the be11uilul t wildflowers, startling rock formations, and wonderfu.l l"liking et;oymentthat Oak Ridge WHATYOU CANDO:Urgeyour� has in its North Ridge Trail system. 1he !nil (lddns.s onp.2) loco-sponsorHR960, 1nurgently runsalongthf:north sid:f:s cn trees, clur brush and trash from the reintroduced hi s ANWR wildernessbill. So far, trail, and take steps to p�vl!nt erosion at kf:y there are 11 origin11l co--sponsorsof both puties, points along the rout<':. Thousands ol hikers but Tmnesseans ue not, sof.,r, �the co- thank Kf:l\ and Helen for helping make an afternoon on the North Ridge Trailthe wonderful ,,....,... experience it is. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Urge yOW" sen.ton The Warrens plan to "rf:tirf:" their {address on p.2) lo co--sponsor Sen. Roth's bill to SOCI""I from rf:sponsibilities for the North Ridge Trail. desi ate the AN\'IR wilderness. TCWP is lookingfor a volunteer to be responsible for trail maintenance. The volunteer need not do all the work �lone; other TCWP members. the on national l••u•• Oak Ridge Recreation Department, Greenways To participate in a free e-mail service that Oak Ridge, and .,..,nous :;c:out troops are all sends out alerts before environmentally soutef:Sofusistance. In addition, Kenand Helen significllflt votes in the C� visit the �llgue have 1greed toh<':lp for thf:roextyeu orrwo, !iO of Conservation Voters >WI> site at www.lcv.org. newcomers tO trailmaintenance Ot.reWf:icomf: Or, you can write {LCV Action Fund, 1107 L Strftl, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036), WHAT YOU CAN DO: Contact Sandra Gcli5 and ask to beadded to the LCV·Update list. Be {522·3809 , SKGoMOesper.COUI) orErk Hirst (t83- �to give them ycur e-mail as well as m1iling l289,HirsteaOesper.com) if you are interested in address (and acontribution ifyoucllfl afford it). spending a couple ol days !!Very few months hiking the trail �nd keeping it initsCI.Jn1"nl fine sh11 e. 10. TCWP NI:WI C. TCWI' will •aalc A. Chan•a• lrt •o•rfl artfl commiUoo Ur,an Foro•try Gr•nf • ChuekEstes, al.ready amember ofthe Board, has [Contributed by Marry R-11 asswned the jOO ofBoard �retary. This offi�r TCWP is !"king the le11d in df:veloping a grant position has been vacllflt since Tom Thombllflh application, jointly with the Oak Ridge left the Bw.rd. Environmental Quality Advisory Board {EQAB) Nl.228,6/2l/99 14 and Glftflways of Oak Ridgt. The granting planning, focused, this ye�r. m TVA and its new agency is the Tmr.esseepartment Oll of land- and water-stewardship missions, Agrirultllre, which administers ftderal funds for opportunities, and problems. wban for6try progr.uns. Our application seek! Headquarters for the meeting will be the linancial support fordeveloping m urban forestry lovtly secluded Norris tearoom (built by the CCC programin OU. Ridge. The moneywould be used during the Roosevelt era) that has 1 deck to develop a vohmteer recruitment program, to overlooking a wooded cove ofthe reservoir. The produ<:f' new brochunos for the greenbelt and trail TCWP committee organizing the program is ueas, and to pu� equipment for .- by cun-ently planningacontinentalbreiliast from 8- vohmteers. Additionally, publk workshops 9, followtd by a session ol speakers (both from would be 5pOI150red to train volunteers in within and outside TVA) addressing TVA IKhrtiques suchliS proper pnWns of trailside resoun:e isues. After a brief TCWP � vegetation, control of exotic specin, and trail meeting. 1x»: lunches will be available for maintenance. The grant application is due June afternoon outdoor activities, which will include 24, and IJWXeSSful applicants will be notified me or more hikes, bicycle rides, and boat trips. li•ter this summer. TVA and State Park naturalists will be available to lead these activities. Evening lf you are inte�ted in volunteering for the Khedules are still under discussion. but would * wban fort�try program. contact Marcy Reed a t include social activities and/or slide shows.- For 691-.8807, or [email protected]. people caning from farther away and wanting overnight attorrunodatiom, the Park hu cabins D. TCW, •lltl• •II ow I• r••tly (with fully equipped kitchen) that sleep 5ix and After several months' effort t.ee Russell and rent for S90 anight. Mucy RHdh.ave comp!@ted a slide show that is Beswe to put Saturday, No\·ember 13, Cll your av;o.ilable for prtsenlations to civicclubs, schools, calendar. chw-ches, etc. The show, which takes about 30 minutes to present, is a mix of word slides (about F. H•lp u• con•frut:f •mall n•twork TCWP's history, its current activities, its mode of To achieve quick communication among operations, the servict"s it provides to members, memben, when needed, or to SEnd out urgent etc.) and color slides showing both beautiful alerts, we would like to supplement our phone sc...nery and �horror" shots, u appropriate to the tree (undef' construction) with e-mail listserves n;uT.ation. There is alsoa �chut sheet� that an * lf you have ane�mail address, kindly send it to becoruulted (or even read) by anypre5e11ter who the TCWP �mall addres.s, TCWPfilkormet.org. needs more information Cll individual slides. and/or to Marcy Reed, Man:[email protected] Now we Ned. volunteers willing to present this show to their favorite group. 0- TCW, to or.anlll• l'uiJIIt: Lantl'• Day adlvlty, ••pt. 25 WHAT YOU CAN 00: (1) Vohmteer to present IContributed byMan:-y Rtedj the slide show to your favorite group(s). {2) If The first National Publk Land's D.ay was you feel uroe.sy about making the pre5elltation held in 1994. That yur, 700 volunteers worked at yowself, arrange for a showing to your group and three sites. By 1998, the number of sites had ask ourService Committee whether they can find grown to82, distributed among 36 states. 1 presenter. In either case, contact Sandra K. Goss, 4U.S22-3809, [email protected]; or Marcy This year, TCWP is participating in Public Reed, 423--481-()623, marqrreedCaol.com; or Lee Lands Day in � with TVA. 0'\ R�ll 423-482-2t53, russelllbCtsprynet.c:om) September 25,we will gather at the Worthington Cemetery ecologicalstudy area atthe e;ut erw;lof OakRidge. Partkipmts will begin by working on e. Annu•l lll••fln• Nov. 13 - acouple of projects: eliminating exotic species ,,.,.. '•*• •h•p• from the land, and corutru<:tion of a small footbridge across alow-\ying area. Afterwards, 11'\l be�to where the majority of our we will have a pimk and party for all memberslive, and it'll have almost all ol the volunteers. Put thisdate on your calendar NOW. romponent:solour usualweekend m�tings, but be Uyou ha\·e questions, contact Marcy Reed at 691- lim.ited to ad.ay+evening. We hope very mudl 8807, or marcyrrffdOaol.com. that these two factors will encourage a large attendance for the very fine program we are NL228, 6/21/99 15 H. R•port 011 March for "•'*• August 31, 7:30 p.m., Southern Appalachian [ContributedbySo.ndraGoss] Wilderness Walk talk and slideshow by Peter We had gorgeous weather for our March-for Kirby, Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church, Parksevent cnApri! 24and raised $2044 for the Knoxville (17A) Big South Fork NRRA (exceeding earlier March September 11, Watershed Improvement for-Parks "takes.� except for the Obed <:n> in Workshop ii2, Brookhaven Farm.. Seymour (16A) 1996). Many thanks tothe event leaders (there September 25, TCWP's Public Lands Day were thr..e hikes and <:n> noat), Frank Hensley, celebration at Worthington Cemetery, time TBA Charlie Klabunde, Eric Hi rst, Chuck E�tes, (110G) Philip Young, Bill Busing and Jean Bangham. November 13, TCWP Annual Meeting Norris SandraGoss arranged for all the refreshments at State Park (110E) Bandy Creek alter the outings, and oversaw the roasting of banana boats. Many thanks to the - contributing businesses: Th.e Oa.l: Ridger. Johnston • The Siolus ofWaltr Quolily in Tt.,ntssu, l998 Coca Cola Bottling, Cinemark Tinseltown, 305(b) RtpOTI (see16C, thi s NL) may be accessed Mickey's Produc.! Company, COM Federal, onthe Web at D�gger Canoe, Health Complements Marcay www.state.tn.us/environment/wpc/index.html Dickens, andOakRidge Bicyde Center For printed copies, call 615-532-0699 The subcommittee that planned the March for • The League of Conservati011 Voters Education Parks included Marion Burger and D<:rl Davis, Fundhas published the envirorunental profiles ol i the freshman class of the 106th Cmgre;s (202- * :��rd:a:�� �:�� ;:;t7cu:��;th�: 785-0730; cc at the web, www.Jcvedfund.org) towardincreasing attendance next time. Did you LCV, in addition to annually compiling the Like the activities that were offered? Would you Notional .Enuiro.,menlol Scoruord for the entire like to be reminded more often? Was the date Coogress. has this year initiated the good or bad' (Send your oomments or ideas lor Accountability Project, which tracks debate. next year's March for Parks to Sandra K. Goss, watches key committees, and monitors the 423.522-3809 or [email protected]) Congressional Record. Contact LCV at 202-785- 8683 or [email protected] 11. CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES; TheAudubon Expedition lnstitute offersB.S. and M.S. programs in Environmental Studies and RESOURCES Environmentai Education through travel and experiential learning. Special scholarships are �{For details, che<:k the referencedNL available. (AEI, 243 High Street, Belfast, ME item; or contact Sandra K. Goss, 423-522-3809, 04915; 207-338-5859or [email protected]). [email protected]; or Marcy Reed, 423-481-()623, [email protected]) July 1, 6:30 p.m., Watershed Improvement Workshop Ill, IJAM's Nature Center, Knoxville {16A) july 8, 7 p.m., TCWP Water Issues Committee, at Chuck Estes', 114 Baypath Drive, Oak Ridge TCWP contact information (continued from p.2) (482-7374) � july 8-11, Saint Louis, MO, "Preserving a uonbor Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Healthy River System,� conference sponsored by ExecOirMtor: MarcyReed, 423-691-8807or 481--0286 i the Mssissippi River Basin Alliance (612-870- [email protected]:om 3441; 11U'[email protected]) 'MIIlllbenhip-D�lopment Directors: july 12-17, Naturalist Week, Great Smoky �dra Goss, 423-522-3809; SKGoss@o?sper.com Mountains Institute at Tremont (inquire 423-448- Marcy Rtled,. 691-8807; [email protected] 6709; [email protected]) President jilru:nyGroton,423-4B3-579!1 (evening). july 13, deadline for submitting comments at EA e-mail: [email protected] that proposes new roads in the BSFNRRA (12B) Onthe web: http: / /www.kormet.OI'lt/tcwp/ August 28, 9-5, State Parks Forum, Sevierville Civic Center (14D)