National Forests in North Carolina launch digital passes
Community, Press Release July 15, 2020
USFS Acquires 49-Acre Tract in Fires Creek
Community, Outdoors June 26, 2020
Murphy, NC, June 26, 2020 – The U.S. Forest Service has acquired a 49-acre inholding at the headwaters of Laurel Creek, a tributary to Fires Creek, in a popular recreation area on the Tusquitee Ranger District. Funding for the purchase comes from the North Carolina Threatened Treasures FY 2020 Land and Water Conservation Fund Appropriations.
The tract, which is completely surrounded by national forest, had been privately owned until it was purchased by Mainspring Conservation Trust in 2017.
In closing on the sale to the U.S. Forest Service, Jordan Smith, Executive Director for Mainspring said, “We are thrilled that the Laurel Creek inholding is forever part of the National Forest, after more than a decade of uncertainty. Mainspring is grateful to the landowners, who were willing to seek a conservation solution for this incredibly significant property, the organizations and supporters who helped donate to this project so the property could become public land, and for our partners at the U.S. Forest Service, who recognized what this inholding means to hikers, hunters, and people who love the Fires Creek Area. This project exemplifies what can happen when everyone works together for permanent conservation.”
The parcel includes a section of the Rim Trail, a 25- mile foot and horse path that traverses the rim of the Tusquitee Mountains and Valley River Mountains that form the Fires Creek watershed. The Rim Trail loop starts at the Fires Creek Recreation Area and connects to other trails including the Shinbone, Sassafras, Phillips Ridge, and Bristol Horse Trails.
“This property is an important wildlife area used by sportsmen for bear, deer, turkey, and grouse hunting and ensures recreation access to the Rim Trail,” said District Ranger Andy Gaston. “Mainspring Conservation Trust has been a great partner in adding public lands to this well-loved part of the Nantahala National Forest.”
Acquisition of the property also helps provide for abundant clean water through protection of the headwaters of Fires Creek, Laurel Creek, and Phillips Creek that flow into the Hiwassee River Basin, the primary source of drinking water for residents in North Carolina and Georgia.
New US Forest Service District Ranger selected for Nantahala Forest
Community, Outdoors June 2, 2020
Asheville, NC – May 22, 2020 – The National Forests in North Carolina announced that Troy Waskey will oversee management and operations as the new District Ranger on the Nantahala Ranger District beginning June 8, 2020.
“We are excited about the contributions Troy will bring to North Carolina based on his professional background and his experience as a ranger in West Virginia,” said Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas. “Troy has a great background working with others, especially rural communities, to develop economic opportunities.”
Waskey has been the District Ranger on the Monongahela National Forest since 2013. While there he focused on collaborative efforts with local communities regarding recreation and tourism and landscape-scale forest restoration.
“Western North Carolina is a special place for me,” said Waskey. “It’s where I cut my teeth as an outdoor recreation enthusiast, trained as a wilderness first responder, and worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.” Waskey and his family are looking forward to calling Franklin, NC, home and will be settling into the area this summer.
Waskey grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He earned a degree in Natural Resources Recreation and Forestry from Virginia Tech and a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Recreation Management at Arizona State University. His first job in the U.S. Forest Service was as a forestry technician on the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire and Maine. He has also worked on the Tonto National Forest in Arizona, Carson National Forest in New Mexico, and in the Arizona State Parks as an Off-Highway Vehicle Planner.
Final decision notice signed for Buck Project on Nantahala National Forest
Press Release, State & National May 22, 2020
Murphy, NC, May 22, 2020 – The U.S. Forest Service signed the final decision notice for the Buck Project on the Nantahala National Forest’s Tusquitee Ranger District in eastern Clay County.
When the draft decision was released in August, 2019, three objections were received. An objections resolution meeting was held in November, 2019. The final decision incorporates changes resulting from the meeting including: identifying logging methods, committing to decommissioning all temporary roads at the completion of the project, and implementing practices to minimize the spread of invasive species. Additional detail on the impacts to wilderness characteristics in the Boteler and Chunky Gal areas is included. Implementation within three units that may be in an area recommended for wilderness in the revised forest plan will wait until the forest plan decision is signed to determine how to proceed.
“The ultimate goal of the Buck Project and all our work on the district is a healthy, diverse forest that sustains wildlife. It takes continued commitment from state agencies, conservation and environmental organizations, and the public to get there,” said Tusquitee District Ranger Andy Gaston. “As we finalize the decision on this project, we’re already engaging the public and partners on ideas for future work.”
Jonathan McCall, Southern Mountains Wildlife Forester for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, was a collaborative partner on the Buck Project. “I am happy to see it moving forward. This area is in dire need of sustainable management work and the Buck Project will help create critical habitat for many of our declining wildlife species,” said McCall. “New young forests are vital to many species ranging from the humble honey bee to golden wing warblers and even some game species such as ruffed grouse and turkey. We are committed to helping sustain as many of these species as possible by continued creation of new young forests while moving toward a more natural distribution of all forest age classes. I’d like to thank all of the partners who have helped move this project forward!”
Nearly 70 percent of national forest in the project area is over 81 years old. Across the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, the trend towards older trees is increasing such that in 50 years nearly half of the forest will be comprised of trees older than 130 years. Only 0.5 percent of the project area is young forest, defined as trees up to 10 years old.
The Buck Project will leave 96 percent of the 20,638-acre area untouched and will not use clear cutting. Instead it uses a silviculture treatment called “shelterwood with reserves” that leaves some large trees behind. In 30 separate stands over an area of 795 acres, most large trees will be cut to make room for young trees to grow. The average size of each harvest treatment is 26 acres.
Removing patches of older trees gives young trees access to sunlight and water allowing them to sprout and grow. In these openings fruit, nutritious leaves, and flowers attract pollinators and other insects and support small mammals that are prey for larger animals. Openings can be created by natural processes such as storms or intense wildfires but without these natural disturbances, openings need to be created through active management.
Areas which have been identified for timber harvesting have been reviewed by a team of natural resource specialists. All work will meet Federal, State, and local environmental regulations and best management practices will be implemented to protect soil and water resources.
The Buck Project includes 17 stream improvement treatments to restore stream habitat quality and connectivity and reduce sediment to streams. Additional treatments include thinning and prescribed burning to improve ecological conditions in fire-dependent plant communities like the serpentine barrens.
The serpentine barrens is the rarest habitat on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. True to its name, the serpentine barrens were once open woodlands, but fire suppression has resulted in closed canopy conditions with more shrubs and trees. This unique community has over 20 state-listed rare plants and 4 state-listed rare butterflies. Two plants, Serpentine ragwort and Rhiannon’s aster, are so rare that this is their only known location in the world. Restoring the serpentine barrens ensures the survival of species that literally have nowhere else to grow.
The environmental analysis for the Buck Project followed a deliberative, science-based approach with input from a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The project was introduced to the public in 2017 through the National Forests in North Carolina website, by mail, and at a public meeting at the Hinton Rural Life Center. A draft environmental assessment was released for a 30-day notice and comment period on April 10, 2019. A draft decision notice was released on August 14, 2019, initiating a 45 objection period.
Work in the project area could begin in late 2020 and will continue for 5 to 7 years.
More information, including the objections received, is available at https://go.usa.gov/xV3Ew.