A Publication of WILD

Volume XI, No.1I Protecting your favorite wild places Spring 2009 More Wilderness in the Jefferson National Forest ! The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act Finally Comes to Fruition

On March 30, President Barack National Forest have now been perma- that designate Wilderness Areas Obama signed the Omnibus Public nently protected. Six new Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers in many Lands Management Act of 2009 Areas, one Wilderness Study Area, and states. More than 2 million acres of (H.R. 146), approved by Congress additions to six existing Wilderness Wilderness were created nation- only days earlier. This was very good Areas encompass a total of 43,000 ally. The law also created the 26- news for Virginians, as the long acres (see full list below). Another million acre National Landscape awaited Virginia Ridge and Valley 10,000 acres are in two newly cre- Conservation System, which Act was part of the legislation. ated National Scenic Areas. will protect the most environmen- tally and historically-significant It took many years of effort The act included 170 different bills lands controlled by the Bureau of by numerous groups and indi- Land Management. viduals to bring about this victory. Former Senator John President Obama was Warner and Representative pleased to sign the legisla- Rick Boucher have long tion. At the signing cere- championed the legislation. mony he stated, "This legis- Wild Virginia has supported lation guarantees that we the Ridge and Valley Act from will not take our forests, the beginning. We appreciate rivers, oceans, national the hard work of many of our parks, monuments, and conservation partners, includ- wilderness areas for ing Virginia Wilderness Com- granted, but rather we will mittee, Virginia Forest set them aside and guard Watch, Southern Environ- their sanctity for everyone mental Law Center, and The to share. That's something Wilderness Society, in shep- all Americans can support." herding the bill into law. These are welcome words from a U.S. President, the Roughly 53,000 addi- sort of which we have not tional acres in the Jefferson Rowland Creek Falls in the newly created Seng Mountain National Scenic Area. Photo courtesy of Virginia Forest Watch. heard in many years.

Newly Designated Areas in the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act

New Wilderness Areas:

• Brush Mountain – 4,794 acres (Montgomery County). Though near Blacksburg, it has remained remote due to its rugged, steep terrain and contains possible old-growth forest.

• Brush Mountain East – 3,769 acres (Craig County). Borders the (AT) for several miles, offering some great views as it ascends & descends the mountain.

• Hunting Camp Creek – 8,470 acres (Bland County). Also accessible by the AT, there are several good trout streams and many wonderful views here.

• Garden Mountain – 3,291 acres (Bland County). Adjacent to Beartown Wilderness, this area borders the well known Burkes Garden. Good hiking trails, trout streams, and old-growth forest are found here. Continued pg.2 PAGE 2 VOLUME XI, NO.1I Wild Virginia Update Letter from our President, Nathan VanHooser

I am happy to report that the undeveloped roadless lands does For more information on the Forest results of our Water Study continue nothing but increase. In the cover Plan Revision and general informa- to influence on-the-ground action. article, we celebrate the new Wilder- tion on the GWNF, visit the useful Since our last newsletter, seven ness Areas of the Jefferson National links below: more organizations have issued reso- Forest. The article, ‘Little River lutions urging action by the USFS to Roadless Area – A Gem of the US Forest Service explanation of step up their planning and concern GWNF’, on page 4 highlights the sig- their current Forest Plan Revision: for sources of drinking water degra- nificance of the largest inventoried http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/ dation within the GWNF. These roadless area in Virginia. While we forestplan/revision/index.shtml groups include Staunton City Coun- are thankful that Wilderness Areas A listing of proposed Forest Ser- cil, Augusta County Board of Super- have lasting protection, we continue vice actions on the GWNF by month visors (BOS), Amherst County BOS, to need your help to keep the or quarter: http://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/ and Amherst Town Council. Our roadless areas of the GWNF green forest-level.php?110808. This listing Conservation Director, David Han- and roadless. is for both the Jefferson and George nah, continues to work with groups Washington NF’s. You will need to in the region to increase public con- One important action you can take right now is to contact the For- scan by district to focus on the cern for how forest management di- GWNF actions (districts are Lee, rectly affects our drinking water. est Service to provide comments on the Forest Plan Revision. Our web- North River, Warm Springs, James It seems every week as I scan site, www.wildvirginia.org, has con- River, and Glenwood/Pedlar). the travel sections of national news- tact information and highlights how Appeals by Wild Virginia to spe- papers, a pitch is made for the unde- the Plan Revision should focus on cific proposals are at: veloped beauty of some far off island. better management of our drinking www.wildvirginia.org/?page_id=11 Invariably, the place is green, iso- water resources. The document, lated, and has few paved roads. “Forests for the Future”, provides The easiest way to use this list is That ideal isn’t far from what we information and talking points on by clicking the links from the online seek in the wilder areas of our own many other Forest Plan issues and is version of this newsletter. Apologies Virginia back yard. As development at: www.forestsforthefuture.org. to those brave enough to shun a com- continues, the value to the public of Please send in your comments today! puter in your home!

Newly Designated Areas in the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act (continued from pg.1)

New Wilderness Areas:

• Raccoon Branch – 4,223 acres (Smyth County). Part of Mt. Rogers , rich forest and several trails with outstanding views make this area a favorite of horseback riders and many others. It is near the Hurricane and Raccoon Branch campgrounds.

• Stone Mountain – 3,270 acres (Lee County). Located farther west than the other areas, it is probably the least disturbed. The remote and rugged features serve as home to several rare species of wildlife.

New Wilderness Study Area:

• Lynn Camp Creek – 3,226 acres in Bland County. This area is very popular with hunters and anglers, and contains possible old-growth forest.

New National Scenic Areas:

• Bear Creek – 5,503 acres in Smyth County. Hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers all enjoy this remote site. The AT providing access to a portion of the area. Old-growth stands occur here also.

• Seng Mountain – 6,455 acres in Smyth County. Adjacent to Hurricane Campground and Skulls Gap Picnic Area, many people enjoy this site. The beautiful 45-foot Rowlands Creek Falls are found here.

Existing Wilderness Areas to which land was added: Shawvers Run, Mountain Lake, , Kimberling Creek, Lewis Fork, and Little Wilson Creek. VOLUME XI, NO.1I PAGE 3

Ancient Mountain Sentinel Wild Virginia Hikes and Outings Volume XI, Number II - Spring 2009 All hike info also available on our website: http://www.wildvirginia.org A Full Outings Calendar : COME JOIN US! Saturday, June 27 Camping Weekend Riprap Hollow Hike & Swim July 17-19 Laurel Fork, Highland County Riprap Hollow is in the south- ern section of Shenandoah National A candidate for Wilderness des- Park. The spring-fed stream in Cold ignation, Laurel Fork is a 10,000 Spring and Riprap Hollow is very acre section of the GWNF and one of scenic and has a 50 ft. wide swim- Virginia's Mountain Treasures. The ming hole fed by yet another moun- area contains old growth and at least tain spring. 25 species of flora and fauna that are David Hannah ranked rare by the VA Division of Conservation Director The swimming hole is a one Natural Heritage. Elevations range PO Box 1065 mile hike from the trailhead. Hik- from 2700 to over 4000 feet so pine is Charlottesville, VA 22902 ers wishing to continue will hike up the dominate tree species. There are (434) 971-1553 the mountainside another two miles 28 miles of hiking trails throughout http://www.wildvirginia.org and then back for a nice swim. the area and a primitive camping [email protected] Bring water shoes, bathing attire area at Locust Springs. and lunch. Due to the driving distance, this Meet at the Crimora store on area does not work well as a day Board of Directors Route 340 at the crossroads with hike destination. We have instead planned a fun weekend outing. The Nathan VanHooser —President Crimora Road at 11 am on Satur- Adirondack Shelter, located at the Chris Bowlen—Vice President day, June 27. From Charlottesville Locust Spring Picnic area, can be Jennifer Johnson—Secretary take I-64 West to exit 96 and turn used for camping. There is a hand Eric Gilchrist—Treasurer right on Route 340. The Crimora store is about 5 miles north of operated water pump, picnic tables, Jen Creasy Waynesboro. fire rings and a vault toilet in the Cynthia Hurst area around the Shelter. A $2.00/ Ernie Reed If you wish to carpool from day parking fee is in effect. Kristin Taverna C’ville, meet at Shenandoah Joe’s July 17: Arrive at Locust Springs new location at 2214 Ivy Road (near Picnic Area. Bring your own camping Sneak Reviews) at 10 am. gear, food and ice. There are no

NEW UPDATE on DONATIONS: stores nearby. Contact: Cynthia Hurst at Wild Virginia is now an independent 540-447-6823 or July 18: Hike and explore the area 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We [email protected] A variety of options are available are no longer a partner of VOP. Please depending on the group. make checks payable to Wild Virginia and mail to PO Box 1065, Charlottes- July 19: Hiking and/or travel home. ville, VA 22902. All donations are tax From Staunton VA, take U.S. deductible to the extent of IRS law. 250 west through Monterey into Ancient Mountain Sentinel is to its intersection with printed on 100% recycled, non-chlorine West Virginia Route 28. Turn North bleached paper. Your use of this or (right) on Rt. 28 and proceed about 6 similar paper will prevent the destruc- miles to FDR 106 and the signs for tion of native forests. Recycle.... Pass the Locust Springs Recreation Area. this newsletter on to a friend! Follow the signs for parking access. To sign up please contact: Chris PLEASE BUY RECYCLED PAPER, Wild Virginia members exploring a pond OTHERWISE YOU ARE NOT COM- during the March 2009 hike on Wolf Ridge Bowlen at 540-289-6801 or PLETING THE CYCLE! and Sand Springs Trails. [email protected] PAGE 4 VOLUME XI, NO.1I The Little River Roadless Area — A Gem of the GWNF

At 27,292 acres, Little River is Trails used by hikers, horseback protect the unique biodiversity and not only the largest inventoried riders and mountain bikers generally remote characteristics. roadless area in Virginia; it is the run east-west and rise nearly 2800 feet largest roadless area along a wide to 4350 ft at Reddish Knob, the highest The importance of this area is stretch of the Appalachian Moun- point in the George Washington Na- unfortunately not obvious to every- tains. If you add in the adjacent tional Forest. Reddish Knob was the one. A 315 acre timber sale, The uninventoried areas, Little River site chosen by President Clinton as a Big Run Project, is moving forward weighs in at more than 30,000 setting to sign the historic 2001 with roughly 200 acres of cutting acres. You would have to travel Roadless Area Conservation Rule, pro- proposed within the eastern edge of north all the way to New Hamp- tecting Little River and over 58 million Little River. Wild Virginia has shire or south to Georgia to find a acres in National Forests from most hiked and surveyed the area and larger, intact roadless area. logging and road building. asked the Forest Service to spare these lands within Little River. The Little River lies along the east- Our April hike was along the head- project would significantly impact ern slope of , waters of the North River, north to the many primitive qualities of the 10 miles west of Bridgewater. It is top of Shenandoah Mountain. The area, and could thus negatively bounded on the north by Briery Trail reaches Buck affect future decisions regarding Branch Road, by Tilghman wilderness designation. Road and Hearthstone Lake to the east, by Todd Lake on In addition, the project the south, and by the crest area is within the North of Shenandoah Mountain to River watershed, a source of the west. It contains the drinking water for the com- headwaters of both Little munities of Harrisonburg and River and North River, pro- Bridgewater. Erosion and viding drinking water for sedimentation from existing Harrisonburg, Bridgewater “temporary” roads are a con- and Staunton before joining tinual threat to water quality the rest of the Shenandoah and reopening them to log- River watershed. It con- ging trucks and the erosion tains the two largest Natu- that accompanies logging ral Heritage conservation Little River Roadless Area as viewed from Reddish Knob, March 2009. would increase the potential sites in the GWNF with a negative impact. diversity of natural communities Mountain at 3,660 ft, where spectacu- TAKE ACTION: Write or call and rare species, including the Cow lar views of surrounding knobs are Forest Supervisor Maureen Knob Salamander (Plethodon punc- spread out in a 180 degree vista. The Hyzer (www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/ tatus), the endemic millipede, Shen- panorama of unbroken forest is a re- contact/index.shtml). Request that andoah Mountain Xystodermid minder of what the primitive Appala- the portion of the Big Run Project (Nannaria shenandoah) and the chians were like. To the east, decidu- within Little River Potential Wil- globally-rare variety of Least Tril- ous oak forests stretch towards Briery derness Area be dropped. Ask lium (Trillium pusillum var. mon- Branch and Bridgewater with spec- that all of the 115,000 roadless ticulum). tacular views of Briery Branch Reser- acres of the Shenandoah Mountain voir and Hearthstone Lake. Shenandoah Mountain is also complex, especially Little River, be known for its high elevation old We have targeted the Little River protected as wilderness study ar- growth and for breeding popula- Area with the majority of our spring eas. tions of disjunct northern birds such hikes for both recreational and conser- It is also important to send a copy as the Red Crossbill (Loxia curviros- vation reasons. Shenandoah Mountain of your letters to your congressman tra), which has a circumpolar range, is the object of intense conservation and Senators Warner and Webb. as well as others that breed at high efforts by a broad coalition of forest They need to know that you sup- elevations on the Allegheny Moun- protection, mountain biking, and hunt- port protecting this unique and spe- tains and on Whitetop and Mt. ing groups. Wild Virginia has asked cial area. The phone numbers and Rogers (Mueller, R; Forests of the the Forest Service to designate all of addresses of your federal elected Central Appalachians, http:// the 115,000 roadless acres of the Shen- officials are available on line on asecular.com/forests/reddish.htm.). andoah Mountain Complex as their individual websites or at “wilderness study areas”, which would www.visi.com/juan/congress/. VOLUME XI, NO.1I PAGE 5

Species Spotlight: Non-native Invasive Plants by Jennifer Johnson, from article by The Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group

Invasive plant species are a sian olive for wildlife planting and York around the mid-1800s. widespread problem in our national windbreaks. forests. The Shenandoah Chapter Oriental bittersweet of the Virginia Native Plant Society (Celastrus orbiculatus) This peren- Japanese stilt grass has been conducting plant surveys nial climbing vine and trailing shrub (Microstegium vimineum) Sometimes in the North River Ranger District has been known to grow stems as called "Nepalese browntop," this annual of GWNF annually since 2004. thick as four inches in diameter. grass can grow to heights of 3½ feet. It They have identified many common Females produce clusters of small is especially well adapted to low light invasive exotic plant species in the greenish flowers. Their abundant conditions and forms extensive patches. GWNF. fruits make Oriental bittersweet White-tail deer may facilitate its inva- Tree-of-Heaven extremely popular for use in floral (Ailanthus altissima) Also arrangements. It can be con- known as Ailanthus, Chinese fused with native American bit- sumac, and stinking sumac, tersweet, which is becoming less tree-of-heaven is a rapidly common. American bittersweet growing, deciduous tree that has fewer, larger clusters of can reach a height of 80 feet or fruits whereas Oriental bitter- more. It has yellow-green flow- sweet has many fruit clusters ers that appear in late spring emerging along the stem. Hy- and some say it smells like brids can occur which may make peanuts or cashews. It is eas- identification more difficult. It ily mistaken for native su- was introduced in the mid-1800s macs, and trees, like ash, as an ornamental plant and black walnut and pecan. It quickly escaped into natural produces many seeds and can areas. It is still planted and easily overrun native plants. maintained, promoting its Japanese stilt grass carpeting the forest floor. Photo by John M. spread. It also produces toxins that Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org. prevent the establishment of other plant species. Tree-of-heaven sion by feeding on native plant species Japanese Honeysuckle was first introduced to America by a and avoiding stilt grass. It was first (Lonicera japonica) This vine climbs gardener in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- documented in Tennessee around 1919, up the trunks of shrubs and small vania in 1784, and by the Chinese and may have escaped as a result of its trees. Its flowers are fragrant white who came to California during the use as a packing material for porcelain. or pink tubes. In the southern U.S., goldrush of the mid-1800s. it often remains evergreen, which gives it an added advantage over Garlic Mustard Russian Olive native species. It can also girdle (Alliaria petiolata) This biennial herb (Elaeagnus angustifolia) This young trees by twisting tightly smells like garlic when crushed. Their thorny shrub or small tree can grow around their trunks. Introduced to small white flowers, which have four up to 30 feet tall and has a dense the U.S. in the early to mid-1800's as petals in the shape of a cross, appear in covering of silvery scales. Its leaves an ornamental plant, for erosion con- spring. It competes with native plants are egg-shaped, and it has fragrant, trol and wildlife cover, the honey- by monopolizing light, moisture, nutri- yellow flowers that appear in June flavored nectar is often eaten by chil- ents, soil and space, which deprives and July, which are eventually re- dren. placed by clusters of silvery fruits. resources from wildlife species that de- The Russian olive interferes with pend on native plants for their foliage, Of these species, Japanese stilt native plants by disrupting natural pollen, nectar, fruits, seeds and roots. grass and garlic mustard seem to be plant succession and nutrient cy- It can be mistaken for native plants the most prevalent in the area of the cling, as well as taxing water re- that also have white flowers, like tooth- GWNF surveyed. For more informa- serves. It was first cultivated in worts , sweet cicely, and early saxifrage. tion, see the source of this article: Germany in 1736, and was intro- This affects insect species like the West The Plant Conservation Alliance, duced in the U.S. in the late 1800s. Virginia white butterfly, which primar- Alien Plant Working Group: http:// Until recently, the U.S. Soil Conser- ily eats toothworts as a caterpillar. www.nps.gov/plants/alien/index.htm. vation Service recommended Rus- Garlic mustard was probably intro- duced by settlers in Long Island, New

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