The Nickajack Naturalist

Volunteers Needed for Annual Weed Wrangle - March 5th

                                                                                               (Photo: The Chattanoogan)

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center

• On March 5th, you can participate in the regional Weed Wrangle® with the National Parks Service. This is a one-day, area-wide, volunteer effort to help rescue our public parks and green spaces from non-native invasive species through hands-on removal of especially harmful trees, vines, and flowering plants.

Wrangle Weeds.

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The Chattanoogan

• Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park Seeks Volunteers for Weed Wrangle 2022

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, in partnership with Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, are looking for volunteers to help remove exotic invasive plant species along their shared boundary as part of Weed Wrangle 2022.

Read more.

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The Chattanoogan

• City of Chattanooga Park Stewards Program Offers Weed Wrangle Event

City of Chattanooga Park Stewards Program announced its participation in the eighth annual Weed Wrangle on Saturday, March 5.

This event focuses on the improving the biodiversity of vast public spaces by eliminating harmful plant species.

Read more.

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Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation

• Tennessee State Parks Seek Volunteers for Annual Weed Wrangle 

Tennessee State Parks invite Tennesseans to participate March 5 in the state’s annual Weed Wrangle, part of a national effort to remove invasive plants from public spaces.

The state has 32 state parks participating. State and community experts in invasive weed management will supervise the removal of trees, vines and flowering plants while volunteers learn ways to address their own green spaces to combat invasive species.

Learn more.

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The Chattanoogan

• First-Ever "Red Bank Weed Wrangle" to Root Out Invasive Plants Set for March 5

The inaugural Red Bank Weed Wrangle, a one-day national volunteer effort to help rescue public parks and shared green spaces from invasive species through hands-on removal of harmful trees, vines and shrubs, is scheduled for March 5.  

Read more.

Wildlife Webinar - Love is in the Air... and the Water

Defenders of Wildlife

Eastern Hellbender.                                (Photo: Isaac Szabo)   

A Valentine's Day exploration of several Southern Appalachian rare aquatic creatures and their clever adaptations, unique mating display and reproductive strategies. You'll also learn about some of the survival challenges they face, how Defenders of Wildlife is protecting them and how you can help.

View webinar.

Early-Bird Registration Now Open for Trails and Trilliums

Friends of South Cumberland

                                                                         (Image: Friends of South Cumberland)

Early-bird registration for Friends members and Tennessee Naturalist participants is now open for the18th annual Trails & Trilliums event, sponsored by the Friends of South Cumberland. Registration to the general public opens Friday, Feb. 25.

To learn more about Trails and Trilliums, as well as volunteer opportunities in the park and more, read the Friends of South Cumberland's March 2022 Trail Tracker newsletter.

Using Prescribed Fire as a Restoration Tool

Byron Brooks - Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center

                                                    (Photo: Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center) 

From the time of European settlement onward, fire has been assiduously excluded from the landscape. As a result of that and other poor land management practices, quality grassland habitat that once covered a great deal of the more-level topography in our area has shrunk to a mere fraction of its original extent. Grassland habitat that remains is often overrun with invasive exotic grass species like tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea, or native woody species like sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua. These species have not adapted to regular disturbance by fires like our native grassland species. The reintroduction of fire to the landscape can be an effective tool for vital habitat restoration, especially for grasslands, which are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems.

Read on to learn more about our most recent prescribed burn.

TDEC in Litigation Over Water Withdrawal from Duck River

Dulce Torres Guzman - Tennessee Lookout

                                           (Photo: Tennessee Lookout)

At Old Stone Fort State Archeological State Park in Manchester, the Duck River and the Little Duck River converge, cascading along the edge and allowing visitors to stand upon mossy rocks to peer into its numerous waterfalls. During peak seasons, the Duck River becomes the backbone of the region’s outdoor recreational economy, supporting an estimated 150,000 anglers, kayakers, canoers and boaters annually. 

Read more.

 

Wildlife Officials Scale Down Deforestation Plans in White County

 Anita Wadhwani / Tennessee Lookout

                   (Photo: John Partipilo / Tennessee Lookout)

State wildlife officials have reluctantly scaled back plans to raze large portions of forest on public land in rural White County after blowback from local residents, a threatened lawsuit and the demand last week from a bipartisan group of 34 Tennessee lawmakers to “stop all action on the plan immediately.”

Read more.

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See also:

• Lawmakers Prod Wildlife Agency for Better Communication   Anita Wadhwani - Tennessee Lookout

The Republican chairman of the Tennessee Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on has asked state wildlife officials to consult with the legislature before embarking on any portion of a controversial plan to clearcut hardwood forests in a White County wilderness area.

• TWRA Changing Plans for Bridgestone Firestone WMA    The Chattanoogan

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Find still more articles on this topic at Tennessee Lookout.  

 

 

The "Superb Owl"

Tennessee Valley Authority

                                                                   (Photo: TVA)

While millions recently tuned in to the Big Game, take a moment to find out more about the beautiful owl species that live close to you in the TVA region — the superb owl, if you will.

Read more.

Walden's Ridge Park: Progress on Signal Mountain

Land Trust for Tennessee

                                  (Photo: Land Trust for Tennessee)

The opening of Walden's Ridge Park is getting closer, and we cannot wait to share the new trails with you. Stay tuned to the park's website for the latest developments and get your mountain bike ready. 

 

In the meantime, meet our new Chattanooga-based Conservation Project Manager, Gaston Farmer! Born in the Chattanooga, Gaston has deep roots in the region: his ancestor served as the city's mayor back in 1880.

The Great Backyard Bird Count Starts Friday, Feb. 18

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Carolina Wren. (Photo: Gary Mueller/Macaulay Library)

Take part in an annual tradition that's strictly for the birds. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a wonderful way to dip your toes into the world of birds, feel the warmth of the birding community, and discover wonders in your own neighborhood. Check out results from last year and see how to participate in the 2022 count.

Former Tourism Director Is New Owner of Tour the Upper Cumberland

The Chattanoogan

Molly Brown.                      (Photo: The Chattanoogan)

Former Putnam County Tourism Executive Director Molly Brown is the new owner of Tour the Upper Cumberland. She plans to elevate and expand the tour agency highlighting attractions, history, experiences and other points-of-interest of the 14-county region. 

Ms. Brown also plans to partner with Tennessee State Parks and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area to feature the countless outdoor experiences of the region, from waterfall tours to guided hikes to ranger meet and greets. 

Read more.