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Hurricane Ridge Fire response concludes
Progress continues on the Hurricane Ridge Fire, which in a final update from the U.S. Forest Service Friday, Dec. 2, was 796 acres with 55% containment. However, rain over the weekend and forecast for the coming week is expected to moderate future fire behavior, and responders are not concerned about the fire escaping the containment area. No structures have been lost or damaged.
The fire, which started the day before Thanksgiving, is burning adjacent to Interstate 40 in the Harmon Den area on the Appalachian Ranger District in Haywood County. Firefighters responded quickly on November 23, protecting resources along I-40 and assessing threats to structures and private property. After spreading rapidly to the top of Hurricane Ridge, the fire began to back down into the Hurricane Creek drainage where rugged terrain and limited access led fire managers to pull back to the existing road network to ensure the safety of responding firefighters. As the fire continued to spread east, firefighters worked to secure lines on the south end of the fire, eliminating any direct impacts to private property.
Much of the 796-acre fire area burned with low intensity, removing leaf litter and fuels and minimizing loss of overstory trees. The strategy of falling back to existing roads as containment lines meant limited disturbance from fireline construction within the watershed. A burned area assessment showed minimal impacts to vegetation and water resources from the Hurricane Ridge Fire.
Haynes Road has reopened, but Brady Road remains closed. Visitors should be cautions when using the area, as fire-weakened trees may be more likely to fall across roads.
The response effort is supported by Haywood County Emergency Management
and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, with 90 firefighters on scene at the height of the response — with many of those working through the Thanksgiving holiday.
The cause of the Hurricane Ridge Fire remains under investigation.
The final perimeter of the Hurricane Ridge Fire includes 796 acres between
Hurricane Gap and Interstate 40. USFS map
Pipeline on Parkway would have no significant impact, Park Service says
The National Park Service has found that allowing an underground natural gas pipeline within the Blue Ridge Parkway will have no significant impact on Park Service resources.
On Nov. 18, NPS South Atlantic-Gulf Regional Director Mark Foust signed a Finding of No Significant Impact, recommended by Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout, to permit a right of way for an underground natural gas pipeline within the Blue Ridge Parkway boundary.
Dominion Energy North Carolina had applied for a permit to install, operate and maintain a 12-inch natural gas pipeline that would cross under the Parkway at milepost 393.3 in Buncombe County. The 50-footwide right of way would allow the pipeline to be installed using a horizontal directional drill perpendicular to the Parkway adjacent to an existing 143-foot-wide Duke Energy electric transmission line right of way.
The application was evaluated in an Environmental Assessment, with public comments from traditionally associated tribes, stakeholders, residents and the public received during a 30-day public comment period. These comments addressed impacts to water resources, greenhouse gas emissions, safety, pipeline placement and consistency with the NPS mission. An appendix to the Finding of No Significant Impact addresses substantive comments. Comments related to the larger utility project beyond the permit on NPS land were considered beyond the scope of the EA.
The EA, FONSI and other planning documents are available at parkplanning.nps.gov/dominiont2rowbuncombe.
A horse in Henderson County has been tested for suspected equine infectious anemia shortly after a horse in Surry County was found positive for the disease.
There are no direct epidemiological links between the cases at this time. However, both cases have been associated with recent sales of racing horses. These are the first new and suspected cases of EIA documented in North Carolina since August 2017. Both facilities are under quarantine, with remaining equines to be observed and retested in 60 days. Neighboring facilities are being monitored.
EIA is an incurable disease commonly spread by biting flies and ticks or shared medical equipment between equines, such as horses, mules and donkeys. Clinical signs of EIA include fever, weakness, weight loss, anemia, edema and death. However, affected animals may not show symptoms but still carry the disease. EIA does not affect people.
Regular testing before crossing state lines or participating in an exhibition helps control it.
Equine owners who have concerns about their animal’s health should contact their local veterinarian. For more information about EIA or other reportable animal diseases call the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division at 919.707.3250.
A proposed management plan for Laurel Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is out for public comment through Friday, Jan. 6.
The plan aims to address crowding and safety issues at the popular trailhead. Proposed actions include trail rehabilitation, building trailside rest areas and a viewing platform at the falls, parking improvements and implementing adaptive management strategies to help support desired conditions.
Parking lot improvements would include building two new parking lots east of the trailhead on the same side of Little River Road as the trailhead. A lot 450 feet west of Maloney Point would accommodate 42 parking spaces and a second lot 200 feet east of the trailhead parking would accommodate 12 spaces. Both parking areas would include a walking path to the trailhead. Additionally, current roadside parking west of the trailhead would be widened and formalized into a formal parking area with a designated travel lane to improve safety. The existing trailhead lot would be restriped.
Adaptive management strategies in the proposed plan include a parking reservation system during periods of peak visitation, with a “modest” charge to cover the reservation processing cost. A shuttle service could also be provided to access the site. The shuttle route would run to Laurel Falls “with potential for other stops as deemed necessary.” Shuttle parking would be located outside park boundaries.
During construction to implement proposed improvements, the trail would be closed for up to 18 months. Construction may also be completed in phases as funding becomes available.
The park obtained initial public input on the proposed plan during summer 2021. This input guided development of the preliminary proposed action. As part of the current public scoping comment period, the National Park Service is asking for input on the preliminary proposed action and issues that should be considered in completing an environmental assessment. An additional public comment period will be offered once the EA is released.
Submit comments and access planning documents online at parkplanning.nps.gov/laurelfalls. Comments can also be mailed to ATTN: Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan/EA, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
During peak times, roadside parking for Laurel
Falls creates dangerous conditions. NPS photo
SNOW REPORT SNOW REPORT
8 Trails Open 3 Aerial Lifts 3 Surface Lift 16-38 Inch Base
Weekdays: 9:00am – 4:30pm Weekends: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Volunteers visit DuPont State Forest to
treat hemlock trees in 2021. HRI photo
Hemlock restoration group plans workdays
Help save hemlock trees from the hemlock wooly adelgid by participating in one of the several upcoming volunteer workdays organized by the Hemlock Restoration Initiative. Each volunteer will be paired with an experienced, licensed professional who will offer instruction and guidance on treating hemlock trees with insecticide that prevents infestation. ■ Thursday and Friday, Dec. 8-9, a group will re-treat hemlocks across Holmes Educational State Forest in Henderson County in partnership with the N.C. Forest Service. Volunteers will have options for easy, moderate and more strenuous levels of terrain and access. Trees range from giant grandmothers that received early protection from the adelgid to smaller understory trees and saplings that were first treated five years ago and have since rebounded nicely. ■ Saturday, Dec. 17, a group will re-treat hemlocks at the Cradle of Forestry in the Pisgah National Forest. Volunteers can choose easy or moderate levels of exertion. The area is mostly flat with options to stay on paved trails the entire day. Volunteers will work among old cabins and displays that are part of this historic site, home of the first forestry school in the U.S.
To participate, contact volunteer@savehemlocksnc.org or 828.252.4783 at least three days before the scheduled event.
Party with Trout Unlimited
The Cataloochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold its annual Christmas party 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Valley Tavern in Maggie Valley.
The evening will include door prizes, dinner, drinks, a 50x50 drawing and a raffle for a restored bamboo fly rod. Raffle tickets are $1 apiece or six for $5 — and everyone who brings an ornament for the Christmas tree will receive a free ticket. The tree will go to Haywood Pathways Center, which will give it to a family that otherwise would not have one this year.
Free. Contact tucataloochee427@gmail.com with questions.
Jackson offers ski, snowboard discount
Friday Night Ski & Snowboard is back through Jackson County Parks and Recreation, with group rates available on Fridays to ride Cataloochee Ski Area.
Ski nights will start Friday, Dec. 16, and skip Christmas week before continuing through March 3. On these nights, lift tickets are available for $37, with a lift ticket and rental combo for $47 to ski or snowboard 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be picked up at Cataloochee.
Register online at jcprd.recdesk.com under the “Outdoor” tab. Contact Trevor Brown with questions at 828.293.3053, ext. 9, or trevorbrown@jacksonnc.org.
A Holiday Homecoming event 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee will offer visitors of all ages the chance to celebrate Southern Appalachian winter holiday traditions.
“Holiday Homecoming is about getting together, enjoying community, and sharing the many traditions dear to this part of the country,” said Supervisory Park Ranger Kristine Brunsman. “We welcome everyone to join us for this special event and share their own heritage and holiday traditions with us.”
Traditions on display will include hearth
cooking, apple butter making, corn shuck dolls, holiday cards, home remedies, blacksmithing and storytelling. Visitors can also learn how to play the mountain dulcimer and sing holiday songs during an old-time acoustic music jam session from noon to 2 p.m. Free and supported by Friends of the
Traditional music and dance liven up a previous Holiday
Homecoming event. NPS photo Smokies and Great Smoky Mountains Association. For more information, call 828.497.1904.
Stay safe during hunting season
The second part of bear season in Western North Carolina starts up Dec. 12 as gun season for deer comes to an end Dec. 10.
West of Surry, Wilkes, Caldwell, Burke and Cleveland counties, bear hunting will take place Dec. 12 through Jan. 2. Gun season for deer concludes Dec. 10, but archery season is open Dec. 11 through Jan. 2.
When recreating outdoors during this time, wear blaze orange or tie it to your pack — or your dog’s collar — in order to increase visibility.
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