The Nickajack Naturalist

Walking and Wildlife at the Brainerd Levee

                   By Bob Butters                                                   at Nooga.com     

The pump station on the Brainerd Levee, just north of Brainerd Road.

  Years before Chattanooga began to take steps to become a pioneer in the development of urban greenways and an example for other cities to emulate, there was the Brainerd Levee.  Built in the 1970's to protect Brainerd neighborhoods from South Chickamauga Creek floodwaters, the 2.6 mile levee had a paved maintenance road on top and was soon discovered by the adventurous to be an excellent location for walking, running, bike riding, and bird watching.    Read more.

 A beaver pond between the levee and the Brainerd Village shopping center, a good place to see ducks in winter.

The bridge over West Chickamauga Creek at Camp Jordan, on the way to the Brainerd Levee.

The new canoe launch on South Chickamauga Creek at Camp Jordan.  I'm not sure what the paddling options are from this site.  Perhaps that's a subject for a future article.  (All photos:  Bob Butters) 

Riverwalk Birding at Chickamauga Dam

  The Riverwalk Bird Club started nearly 15 years ago as a result of a pair of peregrine falcons nesting on the railroad bridge near Chickamauga Dam.  While the falcons no longer nest there, the location has developed a reputation as an excellent birding spot.

  Olivia Collins reports on the activities of the Riverwalk Bird Club in the area in a recent Get Out Chattanooga article.  Read here.  

  Learn more about the Riverwalk Bird Club here.

  Click here for more information about the Tennessee River Park at Chickamauga Dam on the Tennessee"s Watchable Wildlife website.

Hikes Galore at the Great Stone Door

                 By Bob Butters                                                        at Nooga.com

Dusk comes to the Laurel Gorge Overlook near the Great Stone Door.

  The South Cumberland State Park comprises 24,550 acres divided into several units scattered over four counties in Southeast Tennessee.  The largest of these is the 18,000 acre Savage Gulf State Natural Area in Grundy County.  Several trails, providing a half-dozen or more hike options, can be accessed from the Stone Door Ranger Station.   Read more.

Looking across Big Creek Gulf to the Ranger Creek Gorge from the Sinks Overlook.    

A military helicopter flies through the Big Creek Gulf, on a training mission I presume, as this isn't the first time I've seen them do this.                                            

A hiker ascends through the Great Stone Door.   All photos:  Bob Butters

Eleven Edible Weeds that Grow in the Chattanooga Area

                                                                                            From Nooga.com 

If you're into growing your own food, you may already be aware of the plants that thrive in our area, such as okra and watermelon, but did you know that there are several beneficial native plants that most people just call weeds?    Read more. 

Too Much Wildlife?

  Today there are a number of wildlife species that were once considered in danger of disappearing but have now rebounded, due to restoration projects and other factors, to the point of being a nuisance in many areas.  Of course, I suppose that's a better problem to have than regretting a species' extinction.  Richard Simms analizes the situation in an article at Nooga.com.  Read article here.

A white-tailed deer, one of the species that's made a significant comeback in recent decades.  This one showed up several times this summer in my yard, drawn by the smell of ripe apples.

Photo:  Bob Butters