1 Volume 8 , Issue 3 Summer 2009 Preserving and Promoting the Natural and Cultural Resources of the Dan River Basin through Stewardship, Recreation and Education Dan River Basin Association Inside this issue Dan River Guide...It’s Here ! Fieldale Trail Phase II Grand Opening Adopt-A-Trail Program Historic Graveyard Project Visit us on the web at www.danriver.org 2 NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE Meetings of the DRBA Board of 413 Church Street, Suite 401 Directors Eden, NC 27288-3242 are held on the third Wednesday of January, April, July, and October. All DRBA members are welcome to at- Katherine Mull tend. The next Board meeting will be at 5:00 p.m. on Executive Director 336-627-6270 Wednesday, July 15 at the Eden City Hall. [email protected] Dan River Basin Association Jenny Edwards Board of Directors Program Manager 276-340-2462 [email protected] President, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Stuart, VA Vice President, David Jones, Martinsville, VA Chad Hall Treasurer, Mark Bishopric, Eden, NC Program Manager Secretary, T Butler, Wentworth, NC 336-627-6260 [email protected] Barry Dunkley, Danville, VA Thomas Edmonds, Semora, NC Robin Light Carl Espy, Halifax, VA Office/Accounting Manager 336-627-6260 H. Clay Gravely IV, Martinsville, VA [email protected] Clark Graves, Alton, VA Milton Hundley, Eden, NC VIRGINIA OFFICE Ellen Jessee, Collinsville, VA 3300 Kings Mountain Road William L. Kirby IV, Martinsville, VA P.O. Box 7 Wayne Knox, Martinsville, VA Collinsville, VA 24078 Kevin Moore, Reidsville, NC Alison Snow Jones, Winston-Salem, NC Jennifer Doss William W. Truslow, Greensboro, NC Rivers and Trails Fletcher Waynick, Reidsville, NC Project Manager 276-634-2545 [email protected] currents staff Brian Williams Education, Outreach and Editor Jenny Edwards Jennifer Doss Conservation Coordinator Dorcas Midkiff Chad Hall Jenny Edwards 276-634-2545 Betty Kirkpatrick Chad Hall [email protected] Associate Wayne Brenda Hundley Editor Kirkpatrick Ellen Jessee Brian Williams Wayne T Butler Kirkpatrick Contributing Katherine Mull Photography Visit us on the web at www.danriver.org Writers Carl Smith Katie Whitehead Darrn Doss Brian Williams Jennifer Doss Lucy Berry T Butler On the Cover… Smith River paddle on May 2...Marrowbone to Mitchell . Photographer Wayne Kirkpatrick. See article on page 10. 3 4 Greetings from the Director Dan River Guide...It’s Here! Contents president’s space Summer 2009 5 Fieldale Trail Phase II Grand Opening Mayo Lake in April 6 DRBA Earns Two Awards Philpott’s New Water Monitors 6 5 Certified water monitors Linda Drage, Robb Herbst and Mary Lawson, with workshop instructor Wayne Kirkpatrick 9 6 12 10 5 10 5 8 9 8 7 Uranium Mining Update 10 Marrowbone to Mitchell in May 8 Caswell County June 9 Outing Danville Riverwalk Heritage Trails Memorial and Tribute to 11 Memberships and Donations Ben Lackey Adopt-A-Trail Program 9 Water Quality News 12 Historic Graveyard Project Kirkpatrick Wins DAR Medal 4 Greetings from the Director Dan River Guide... It’s here! An Insider’s Guide to the Dan River in North Throughout the guide are notes regarding Carolina and Virginia, described by Lindley Butler as places to fish, float, picnic or watch wildlife. Major “brilliant,” is now available on DRBA’s web site. highlights include river towns and places to explore Sized for travel and printed on waterproof paper, local history. The guide also features farms, orchards, the full-color guide follows the river’s winding course wineries, art markets and bicycle trails, as well as web through 125 miles of rural Piedmont North Carolina links for information for visitors. and Virginia. It features more than 200 color photo- The companion Smith graphs and 52 strip maps that follow the river from River Guide will be published this northwestern Stokes County to Milton, NC. Each map summer. DRBA hopes to publish reveals fascinating facts, river information and local future river guides for the Mayo highlights. and Banister and sections of the “The river guide unlocks our little-known region Dan that lie upstream in Patrick and showcases our considerable assets—our small County, Virginia and downstream towns, stunning natural beauty, and fascinating his- in Halifax County, Virginia. tory,” says Butler. “Other places have river maps, but To order your full-color this is way beyond that. There’s nothing like this any- waterproof guide for the Dan where else.” River, please visit the DRBA The guide first leads visitors through the striking store at www.danriver.org . All scenery, rocky outcrops and cliffs of Stokes County, proceeds from the sale of the including river outfitters, rapids, fishing, special natural guide support work to preserve areas and other features. The Rockingham County and promote the natural and cul- maps reveal the historic navigation structures that tural resources of the Dan River Basin. channel the flow for year-round boating. This project received support from the Golden As the gradient lessens and the river greets LEAF Foundation and the Virginia Environmental En- Virginia, the guide includes the City of Danville’s parks, dowment, as well as DRBA’s members and donors. trails, historic tours and five dams. Leaving Danville, the Dan crosses back into North Carolina, reaching the historic river town of Milton in rural Caswell County, Katherine Mull the ending point for the guide. president’s space What a busy quarter for DRBA! These two resources are a Our members and guests enjoyed getting back on ‘must-have’ for all who the water with First Saturday Outings on Mayo Lake, the enjoy paddling the Dan Smith River and a hike on the Danville Riverwalk—all great and Smith Rivers. adventures! We welcome new DRBA Board member I am honored and humbled by the confidence of Kevin Moore, elected at the March Annual Celebration, DRBA’s Board of Directors having entrusted the office of and Robin Light, who has joined our staff as Office Man- President to me. As we move forward, the growth that DRBA ager in the Eden office. has experienced will continue to require the board’s guid- The rapid pace of project work continues across the ance. Our efforts will focus on the development of our or- basin. “An Insider’s Guide to the Dan River in North Caro- ganization as a sustainable resource in a difficult economic lina and Virginia,” a year-long effort, is now available at environment. www.danriver.org, and its sister publication, the Smith I welcome your collective wisdom and experience to River Guide, is nearing completion. ensure DRBA’s continued success. Wayne Kirkpatrick 5 Fieldale Trail Phase II Grand Opening Some 25 people braved a cool, cloudy to confluence with the Dan River, as well as the day for the grand opening of Phase II of the “Beaches to Bluegrass Trail”across Southern Vir- Fieldale Trail on March 28. Extending 1.3 miles ginia. downriver from the first 1-mile section, which Bryant Brooks of Dominion Foundation opened July 2007, the new portion, sometimes praised all involved in creating “this special tucked between a towering cliff and the river, is place” and indicated that sometimes the easiest a peaceful, wooded greenway graced with cano- part of a project is helping pay for it. pies of rhododendrons, large sycamore trees, Doss also thanked Boxley Materials, Pat- and abundant wildflowers. rick Henry Correctional Unit 28, Dave Wilson, Speaking at the event, both State Sen. Joe & Ellen Jessee, Kay Slaughter, and the agri- Roscoe Reynolds and Henry County Supervisor culture department of Magna Vista High School Jim Adams praised DRBA, its Rivers & Trails for their support. For granting use of their land, affiliate, and Henry County for their collabora- she thanked The Lester Group, Mr. James Stone, tive effort on the trail, which they see as an eco- and Henry County Public Service Authority. She nomic development tool as well as a path to a added, “The Dan River Basin Association is healthier lifestyle for the community. blessed with many volunteers who are working DRBA’s Project Manager Jennifer Doss hard to help transform Martinsville & Henry thanked the Dominion Foundation, the project’s County into a recreational destination.” major funder, and Frith Construction who, by Several walkers and members of the Henry using small equipment and sustainable building County Bike Club, which holds regular 4th Satur- techniques, created “a trail having a minimum day rides on the Fieldale Trail, were the first to impact on the environment while having a maxi- initiate the new trail. Already the trail is experi- mum level of interest.” She noted that the encing heavy use. When asked, users rave about Fieldale Trial is part of the proposed 45 mile the trail and are incredibly excited about the “Smith River Trail System” from Philpott Dam planned future extension. Ellen Jessee Mayo Lake in April April 4 at Mayo Lake in Person County promised Back on shore, we took lunch at one of the pavil- to be a 70ish, no-wind day, so I left my windbreaker in ions, then went for a short hike. The park seemed under- the car. All was A-OK until I paddled out of the cove, utilized, but I can tell you it is a little gem and would the wind picked up, and I was thinking I would be just recommend it to anyone. perfect with that windbreaker on. OK, lesson learned, Jeffrey M. Bliss you can always stow it if you don’t need it. Fortunately we were hugging the shoreline, ex- ploring all the little coves. One kept getting narrower, until branches intermingled overhead, creating an inti- mate little place. I just love little places like this. I guess I expect to see critters enjoying their wet, cozy little environment.