Spring Hiking Tour of the Short Mountain Ecotone & the Collins River Watershed Date: Saturday, 5 May, 2018 Time: 9:00 a.m. CT Location: Short Mountain State Natural Area and surrounding area, Woodbury, Cannon County

https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-middle-region/middle- region/na-na-short-mountain.html https://admincms.tn.gov/assets/entities/environment/attachments/na_watershed-short-mtn-map.pdf http://cumberlandriverbasin.org/ http://cumberlandriverbasin.org/icreek/

Leaders: David Withers, Sunny Fleming, Brian Miller, Mark Vance, Cynthia Allen, Heather Slayton, Aaron Deter-Wolf, Sarah Levithol, Ben Miller & Neal Appelbaum

Fee: $15 per person, children 12 and under free Reservations required: Registration required by 4 May 2018. To register visit https://tnstateparks.com/events/details/#/?event=short-mountain-ecotone-tour. General inquiries may be directed to David Withers at 615-532-0441 or [email protected].

Description: Short Mountain, a remnant piece of the nestled in the escarpment between the Central Basin and Eastern , is a geologic anomaly long considered a very charismatic and sacred part of Cannon County culture and lore. With sandstone, not limestone, at its crest, it contains decidedly different plant and animal communities than the lands surrounding it. It also drains to three different watersheds – the Collins River, , and East Fork Stones River – the last being the primary source of water for Woodbury and surrounding communities. Recently, portions of the Short Mountain massif were acquired and are now managed as the 1,000-acre Headwaters WMA by the TWRA, with each of the three watersheds represented.

For this spring tour we will trek up the Collins River face of the mountain, where Gunter Hollow Road makes an aggressive ascent through a variety of limestones to reach the sandstone above, before ceding a more casual approach along Bible Camp Road. Our focus will be a moderate to difficult hike on the pavement and gravels of Gunter Hollow and Bible Camp roads, covering about 2.0 miles in 3 hours. From this forest setting we will study a plethora of spring ephemerals, trees, rocks, salamanders and crayfish. Although we will visit no waterfalls this year, we will see some cherty headwater streams that give this slope its character, and support some rather interesting species.

Our day begins with orientation and introductions at TWRA’s Headwaters WMA barn along Gunter Hollow Road, where we will learn about the special plants and plant communities in the area, TWRA’s management of the WMA, and discuss the history of Short Mountain as one of our first state natural areas.

Our first stop, Mountain Creek, is the sole Collins River tributary released by the mountain, fed in part by Gunters Cave, a 1450’ long wet cave that is its most reliable source. Gunters Cave is home to some notably rare species including an undescribed cave beetle and a genetically distinct salamander. Here we will pause to hear about the amphibians and crayfish of the WMA, including the Short Mountain crayfish (Cambarus clivosus), found sparingly in seeps at the foot of the massif.

Leaving the WMA for Gunter Hollow Road, we begin our ascent with the steepest grade…a rise of 100 feet over 1,000 feet, or a 10% grade! Along the way we will learn about the history of the area and its inhabitants past and present, and the significance of the Plateau remnant to water quality of area springs, seeps, and caves. We’ll take a leisurely pace, stopping frequently to enjoy in all the mountain has to offer.

Moving upwards with a slightly more generous grade, we’ll stop at an abandoned quarry to take in the geology and plant and animal life present. Here we will begin to see limestones in the Monteagle series, a solid indication that you have left the Highland Rim and are now clearly within the escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau.

As we enter a landscape dominated by sandstone outcrops and related soils, watch as both the herbaceous and woody plant communities change. A switchback roughly demarcates this transition, and gives us a chance to break and visit a spur trail that contains perhaps the true origins of Mountain Creek, providing water to the camp and habitat for Cambarus clivosus. Now we have entered the Short Mountain State Natural Area.

With a final push upwards we’ll reach Bible Camp Road, and cruise along a portion of the Caney Fork River watershed for approximately 0.8 mile, weaving in and out of small sandstone contours. Those who remember the 2017 tour will recognize that this segment sits approximately 500 feet higher in elevation than the previous route. Note the change in the landscape!

As we arrive at the Short Mountain Bible Camp, Director Jerry Nash will share the history of the site as we take in views of the western slope of the massif, portions of which drain to the Caney Fork and East Fork of the Stones.

This year our time on the bus will be limited, returning guests from the bible camp to their vehicles at the WMA.

We expect to conclude our day by 1 PM. Please enjoy all the scenery and camaraderie that Cannon County has to offer, including the businesses and attractions in nearby Woodbury and the surrounding community. The Short Mountain Distillery (www.shortmountaindistillery.com) is a short drive east of the WMA, and offers the chance to learn about how the Short Mountain landform supports the local community and economy and is likewise influenced by both.

The distillery now boasts a café and tasting room, and all are welcome to dine onsite: http://www.shortmountaindistillery.com/cafe. Please inform David Withers at time of registration if you plan to partake of the café’s food offerings, as the management must be notified ahead of time.

David Ian Withers is the staff zoologist with the Tennessee Natural Heritage Program of the Division of Natural Areas, and has been involved with stream surveys, environmental review, and crayfish inventory in the Short Mountain area since the mid-1990’s.

Sunny Fleming is a botanist and GIS specialist with Tennessee State Parks and is a recognized authority on rare plants of state and federal concern. Much of her work in recent years concerns rare and endemic plant species from the cedar glades and barrens of . Dr. Brian Miller is a Professor of Biology at MTSU, Cannon County resident, and authority on Tennessee’s amphibians and reptiles.

Mark Vance is TWRA’s manager for Headwaters WMA and passionate advocate for wildlife and conservation in Cannon County.

Cynthia Allen conducts outreach and education as part of MTSU’s Stormwater Program and is an active member and current President of the Stones River Watershed Association (SRWA). She also is a member of the Tennessee Stormwater Association.

Heather Slayton is leader of the Forest Health and Sustainability Unit of the Tennessee Division of Forestry, and is an authority on pest species affecting our native forests.

Aaron Deter-Wolf and Sarah Levithol are prehistoric archaeologists with the TDEC Division of Archaeology, focusing on a variety of archaeological excavations and research across the state.

Ben Miller is a practicing karst hydrogeologist at the United States Geological Survey in Nashville, specializing in dye tracing and flow studies regarding underground movement of water in limestone- bearing landscapes.

Neal Appelbaum is a Cannon County resident, advocate, and past president of the SRWA. He currently serves on the board of the SRWA and until recently was the Executive Director of the Arts Center of Cannon County.

This hike will span approximately 2.0 miles of county and private roads leading to the Short Mountain Bible Camp, with ~1.2 miles averaging an 8-9% grade. Participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots you don’t mind getting wet, and bring along some dry clothes and footwear as well. Although not required, attendees may also wish to bring a notebook and pencil, a hand lens or magnifying glass, and camera. You can address specific questions about the outing to [email protected]. Don’t forget to BYO snacks and water! And don’t forget your walking stick!

Following the hike, transportation will be provided from the bible camp back to the Headwaters WMA parking area. This event is limited to the first 40 registrants, and parking is available at Headwaters WMA, Gunter Hollow Road. Orientation will occur at 9:00 AM CT.