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TVA news release
Open floodgates at Chickamauga Dam. (Photo: TVA)
DECEMBER 27, 2018—TVA’s River Management team is continuing its work over the holidays by doing what it’s been doing a lot this year: handling above average amounts rainfall and runoff across the Valley. As 2018 draws to a close, yearly rainfall totals for the TVA region continue to climb to near record levels, and the trend for above average rainfall totals continues right up to year’s end.
Outdoor Adventures Revisited Originally posted Dec. 10, 2015
By Bob Butters at Nooga.com
Overlooking the area of the Fiery Gizzard where the trail reroute project is underway. (Photo: Bob Butters)
Note: This is a three year old article, so the reroute has been completed, but the description for the recommended hike to Werner Point Overlook is still relevant. B.B.
The South Cumberland State Park's popular Fiery Gizzard Trail, which was scheduled to close near Raven Point on Dec 1, will now remain open. For months, volunteers have been working tirelessly to help build a 1.5 mile reroute around a section of trail the landowner wanted closed off
Also featured, a recommended 7-mile round-trip hike to Werner Point Overlook on the Dog Hole Trail.
Updated links:
Click here for a trail map.
A view of the Fiery Gizzard from Werner Point Overlook. (Photo: Bob Butters)
Outdoor Adventures Revisited is a new weekly feature at the Nickajack Naturalist, where I republish older posts which link to some of my articles which are still available in the archives at Nooga Today. B.B.
TVA news release
(Photo: TVA)
We all do it—we make a resolution vowing to improve our health habits in the new year. What better time to get started than on New Year’s Day? Here’s how to have fun and stay safe while hiking.
(Image: Pixabay)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Nickajack Naturalist!
Outdoor Adventures Revisited Originally posted Dec. 11, 2015
By Bob Butters at Nooga.com
A scene along the Profile Trail. (Photo: Bob Butters)
If you'd like to get a different perspective of Reflection Riding than the one offered by the gravel driving loop, the Profile trail is an option to consider. Meandering through the forests and meadows of the Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center's 317-plus acres, the 2.7 mile loop provides a close-up look at a variety of terrain and habitats. Read more.
Note: many of the links in these older articles tend to be out-of-date.
This is a three year old article, so the trail may not be exactly the same as presented here. You can pick up a Reflection Riding trail map at the visitor center.
Get directions to Reflection Riding here.
Outdoor Adventures Revisited is a new weekly feature at the Nickajack Naturalist, where I republish older posts which link to some of my articles which are still available in the archives at Nooga Today. B.B.
TVA news release
(Photo: Contributed)
Think beyond swans a-swimming, geese a-laying, calling birds, French hens and turtledoves this year—join the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, spot as many species as you can and do your part for citizen science this year. The Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running wildlife census in the world. The 119th annual count kicked off on Friday, Dec. 14 and runs through Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019—and there are numerous opportunities to take part in the Tennessee Valley.
Note: The Nickajack Lake bird count is scheduled for Sat., Dec. 22, 2018.
TVA news release
(Photo: Contributed)
Get up close and personal with some of the fish that live in the Tennessee Valley — and learn more about TVA’s environmental stewardship mission — by visiting TVA's mobile aquarium.
Outdoor Adventures Revisited Originally posted Dec. 28, 2014
By Bob Butters at Nooga.com
A field of sandhill cranes at Hiwassee Refuge. Photo: Bob Butters
In recent years, the Hiwassee Refuge near Birchwood, Tennessee, has become a popular location for viewing large flocks of wintering sandhill cranes. Up from just 20 birds in 1968, over 14,000 of the cranes now gather there each winter, the largest winter flock of sandhill cranes in the southeastern U.S. (outside of Florida). Read more.
As links no longer work in these old articles, here are ones I could update:
Tennessee Wildlife Viewing Trail
Cherokee Removal Memorial Park
Directions and more information about the Hiwassee Refuge here.
The overlook at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park provides a view of Hiwassee Island. Photo: Bob Butters
Cranes seen from the observation platform at Hiwassee Refuge gather around a backwater area connected to Chickamauga Lake.
Photo: Bob Butters
Outdoor Adventures Revisited is a new weekly feature at the Nickajack Naturalist, where I republish older posts which link to some of my articles which are still available in the archives at Nooga Today. B.B.
TN Dept. of Environment & Conservation news release
From left, are Brock Hill, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation;
Angie Markum, director of development for facilities, education programming and resources for Ivy Academy;
Ally Spielman, member, Appalachia CARES AmeriCorps and seasonal ranger at Ivy Academy; Sarah Green,
environmental literacy coordinator, TDEC; Josh Kuykendall, Ranger 2, Cumberland Trail State Park; Dalton Miller,
Ranger 1, Cumberland Trail State Park; State Rep. Esther Helton; J.C. Bowman, executive director, Professional
Educators of Tennessee; and Holly Slater, executive director, Ivy Academy. (Photo: Contributed)
SODDY DAISY – Ivy Academy, a charter school in Hamilton County serving grades 6-12, last week held the grand opening of a new wing at its high school housing the Tennessee State Parks Environmental Institute.
Ivy Academy is the first environmentally themed public school in Tennessee. The school partners with Tennessee State Parks for high school students to major in environmentally related fields. Instruction at the school allows students to move more outdoors than students in traditional educational settings. The school uses Tennessee State Parks rangers to help educate students.
“Given the overlapping missions of Tennessee State Parks and Ivy Academy, this partnership is a natural extension of what each of us does on a daily basis,” said Brock Hill, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “We’re excited to work with students who make up the next generation of environmental leaders.”
Students in grades 9-12 can major in studies that lead to careers in environmental work. The school offers majors in veterinary science, environmental audio/video production, and environmental natural resource management. Prior to entering high school, students at the school in the 6th grade Student Junior Ranger class have a curriculum adapted from the Tennessee State Parks Junior Ranger Program.
Two part-time Tennessee State Parks resident-rangers are stationed on campus. They coordinate with instructors at Ivy Academy to schedule professionals as guests in Ivy Academy classrooms. The school uses the partnership to help students become part of a pipeline of talent in the environmental fields. All of the high school classrooms at the school are named for Tennessee State Parks. The school emphasizes college and career readiness as part of the Drive to 55 initiative in state government. The new facility is financed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development.
Dignitaries including Tennessee State Parks officials were part of student-led tours and meetings December 4th that also included school staff, administrators and community members.
Ivy Academy is at the headwaters of the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge in Soddy Daisy.