Environment and Conservation Celebrates National Public Lands Day in Tennessee -- Saturday, Sept. 24

 

NASHVILLE – The Department of Environment and Conservation invites the public to take part in volunteer activities across Tennessee in celebration of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24.

 

National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest one-day, volunteer stewardship event. Organizers seek to honor the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in protecting America's public lands. Last year, more than 175,000 volunteers across the country built trails, planted trees and removed litter to improve America’s shared lands for all who visit them.  

 

“National Public Lands Day is a long-standing tradition and one that combines a love for our outdoors with the spirit of volunteerism,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said.  “As the Volunteer State, I encourage all Tennesseans to join us in this statewide effort to observe this important day and to help preserve the pristine beauty for which our state parks and natural areas are known.”  

 

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with just three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Today, this annual program of the National Environmental Education Foundation has grown to involve more than 175,000 volunteers at over 2,000 locations in every state across the nation. Chartered by Congress in 1990, the National Environmental Education Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that develops and supports environmental learning programs to meet social goals and build partnerships among government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Those interested in organizing a National Public Lands Day project or volunteering can call (202) 833-2933, or go to www.publiclandsday.org. 

 

TDEC’s Resource Management Division, along with several Tennessee State Parks, will sponsor a number of volunteer stewardship projects and outdoor events across the state in recognition of Public Lands Day. This year’s focus is the important role spending time outdoors plays in our overall health and well-being. Public Lands Day activities planned in Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 24, are included below. (Note that hours listed indicate the local time for events.) 

 

“There are events across Tennessee ranging from cleanups to trail maintenance to removing invasive species,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. “We appreciate all of the volunteers who will be spending their time helping to preserve our public lands for all who enjoy them.” 

 

 

Bledsoe Creek State Park – Join park staff and the Friends of Bledsoe Creek State Park at 9 a.m. to remove rock, reroute a ditch and clean away debris. Volunteers should meet at the shop building located at the end of Deer Run Road. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Bring work gloves and any rakes or tools for cleaning that you may have. For more information, contact Sharon Armistead at (615) 347-3639 or the park office at (615) 452-3706. 

 

 

Radnor Lake State Park and Natural Area – Join park staff and the Friends of Radnor Lake out on the trails to remove invasive species and to perform other general maintenance. Volunteers should meet at the park office at 8 a.m. For more information, please e-mail jesse.germeraad@tn.gov or call (615) 373-3467.

 

Edgar Evins State Park – Learn how to identify invasive plants in the park and how to safely remove them during a special Invasive Plant Workshop, which includes both classroom and hands-on plant removal. Park Ranger Mark Taylor and State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath will lead the workshop. Participants should bring work gloves and a sack lunch, and wear appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to ages 11 and older. Friends and park staff will be available to lead additional scout groups and individuals if needed. Please contact Fount Bertram at (931) 765-5357 or e-mail fwbertram@dtccom.net to sign up and for additional details.

 

Virgin Falls State Natural Area – Journey through the scenic beauty of one of Tennessee's best-loved hiking trails at Virgin Falls State Natural Area in White County for a back-country cleanup. Volunteers should meet at 10 a.m. for an eight-mile trail to the falls. This trail descends off of the Plateau, and meanders along a creek passing caves, sinks and waterfalls. Participants will be picking up trash and cleaning up as you go – packing all trash items out of the area. Lunch will be held at the falls, which is remarkable due to the water pouring out of a cave mouth at the top of a bluff then falling over 100 feet before being swallowed up by a sinkhole at the bottom. The trail then backtracks up and out of the gulf to the parking area. If inclement weather is predicted, the event will be cancelled so volunteers are encouraged to check weather reports before departing. Dress in layers, wear sturdy boots, and bring plenty of water and a sack lunch.

 

As with any strenuous backcountry hiking trip, please do not attempt this hike unless you are in good condition and able to negotiate difficult trail situations. For more information, including descriptions, directions and maps of the area, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/virgin. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Forrest Evans Forrest.Evans@tn.gov or (615) 289-4995.

 

 

Cumberland Mountain State Park / Ozone Falls State Natural Area – Assist park staff and the Friends of Cumberland Mountain during a half day of trail maintenance from 9 a.m. until noon. This effort will include trimming back the trail, cutting invasive plants, picking up trash, learning a little bit of history of the area, and enjoying a short but steep and strenuous hike to the bottom of the falls. Equipment will be provided. Participants should bring food and water and wear sturdy shoes. For directions to Ozone Falls, please visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/ozone/

 

Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park – Join park staff and community members for a day of hands-on volunteer work and celebration. Volunteers should meet at the campground pavilion at 11 a.m. for instructions. For more information contact Dawn.Coleman@tn.gov or call (423) 257-2167. 

 

Norris Dam State Park – Join park staff for a Public Lands Restoration Project, beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing through the afternoon. Civilian Conservation Corps Company 494 had a work camp on what is now part of Norris Dam State Park. This historic area has numerous stone features still standing that are a part of program efforts to tell the story of the "CCC boys.” Recently acquired photos of the camp in its operational period show the whereabouts of other buildings and activity areas. Volunteers will be working on finding old foundations, rock steps, pits, cisterns and other landmarks from the photos. A large area in the camp has river cane growing out of control. Hardy volunteers will take on the task of clearing and removing some of this cane to reveal a large stone encased ditch that runs through the center of the camp. Staff will have GPS units on hand to mark and map the site. Work will continue throughout the day as long as the work crew is present, so volunteers are encouraged to come any time. Please contact Mark Morgan at (865) 426-7461 for more information.

 

 

Johnsonville State Historic Park – Volunteers are needed to assist park staff and the Friends of Johnsonville State Park for a lake shore cleanup. The effort will kick off at 9 a.m. at the lakeside parking area. Please wear long pants and footwear that can get muddy and wet. Trash bags, gloves, water and snacks will be provided. For more information please e-mail Jerry.Wooten@tn.gov or call the park at (931) 535-2789.

 

Riverwoods State Natural Area – Join the naturalist staff for a work day at Riverwoods, a 21-acre natural area located along the Wolf River in Germantown just outside of Memphis. Volunteers are needed to help remove exotic/invasive species that have colonized in the area due to channelization of the Wolf River. Privet and Japanese honeysuckle are by far the most common – in fact, some areas contain only privet in the understory and Japanese honeysuckle as a groundcover plant. We do not expect to eradicate exotics from the area, but we do expect to gain some control over these plants. Areas of work will be continually monitored after removal of the invasive plants. 

 

Participants should meet at 9:30 a.m. and work will continue until noon. Please bring gloves and loppers and/or hand saws to cut privet stems. Volunteers should also bring a snack and come prepared for variable weather. For more Information about Riverwoods State Natural, including directions and a map of the area, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/riverwoods/. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Allan Trently at Allan.Trently@tn.gov or (731) 512-1369.

 

For more information, including descriptions, maps and directions, for these or any of Tennessee’s 82 designated state natural areas, visit the Web site at www.tn.gov/environment/na. For more information about Tennessee State Parks, please visit www.tnstateparks.com.