Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge
SPRING NEWLETTER 2009Hickory Nut Gorge is one of the most ecologically valuable and biologically diverse areas within all of North Carolina. It is home to numerous threatened and endangered plant and animal species as well as six uncommon natural communities. Small whorled pogonia, granite dome goldenrod, bleeding heart, eastern-shooting star, broadleaf coreopsis, and the federally endangered white irisette are only a few of the thirty-seven rare plant species living in the gorge. Of the fourteen rare animal species that call Hickory Nut Gorge home some of the more significant findings include the federally endangered green salamander, the federal candidate Southern Appalachian woodrat, and the southern pygmy shrew which is a species of federal concern. Also rare and in the gorge are the crevice salamander, peregrine falcons, and eastern-small footed and Indiana bats. Some of the more rare natural communities that are in the gorge include montane alluvial forests, granitic domes, montane mafic cliffs, spray cliffs, Carolina hemlock bluffs, and rocky summits. The area is also known for its fissure caves, which support many rare species. All of this beauty – and the animals that live among it – are threatened by invasive exotic plants.
Exotic invasive plants run amok throughout an environment, crowding out the native plants and out-competing the natives for limited light, water, and nutrients. These unwanted plant species can alter an ecosystem so-much-so that dense monocultures are created and thereby biological diversity is severely threatened. Once they are established, invasive exotic plants reduce the inherent value of our natural areas, and cost large amounts of money in person-power to control.
Invasive plants can have a devastating impact on rare plant species. They are robust plants that arrived here without their native predators, and with little opposition they march across the landscape. The rare plants are able to provide little resistance, and thus the exotics easily over run them.
Many of these exotics arrive as ornamental plants, but spread beyond backyards. Multiflora rose, English ivy, wisteria and Japanese honeysuckle fall into this category. In years past, land managers themselves sometimes unwittingly brought in exotic plants to serve a common good. Kudzu, which blankets more than seven million acres of the south, was introduced as erosion control and for livestock feed.
All of these invasives are well established in the south. In an hour’s drive through western North Carolina, you can probably identify all of them from your car window. Land managers work to knock these species back, to prevent them from taking more area and reduce what they’ve already grabbed. It will be impossible to eradicate them, but we can reduce their effects and restore areas that have been affected.
There are other invasives that haven’t yet established a foothold in our mountains, or even in the state. They are on our watch list. We are constantly on the lookout for any signs that they have arrived here. Some have already had devastating results in other parts of the south. One of these is Cogon grass, which is ranked as one of the 10 worst weeds in the world. Large portions of native savanna have already been lost to Cogon grass in Mississippi and Alabama. Recently, it was detected just across the border in Pickens, South Carolina. The theory is that it arrived as part of a hay shipment during the recent drought. Land managers put a lot of effort into identifying any infestation of these watch-listed invasives at their earliest possible point. It is far easier to wipe out a few isolated plants, before they become the next kudzu.
As lovers of Hickory Nut Gorge, all of us can fight the spread and introduction of invasives. Look around your backyard. Find out what plants live there. Are they native or noxious invaders? Replace the noxious invaders with native plants. When you buy plants, make sure you are purchasing ones that belong here. Unfortunately, many exotic invasives will be sold this spring to homeowners looking to improve their yards. There are very few rules that prevent their sale, so it is up to you to be an informed consumer. As you enjoy the Gorge, be on the lookout for invaders and let land managers know when you suspect there is a potential problem.
There are some great resources to help you fight exotic invasives. The North Carolina Department of Transportation just published an excellent online guide to identifying noxious invaders, which is available at:
The North Carolina Native Plant Society web site will help you pick native plants for your backyard. It is available at: http://www.ncwildflower.org/ The North Carolina Botanical Garden has other helpful information at:
Guest Columnist
Meagan Sutton, The Nature Conservancy
Invasive Plant Education Workshop and Field Study
Saturday, June 13, 2009. Lake Lure Community Hall
(Community Hall is located at 2948 Memorial Hwy inside the Municipal Center/Town Hall)
You are invited to attend this free workshop. Come hear from local plant experts the importance of protecting our native plants and learn to identify invasive species. After the workshop, there will be a guided field trip. You will learn to identify invasive plants and learn best practices for removal.
8:30 A.M. - 9:00 A.M. Coffee & Pastries
9 A.M. - 11 A.M. Workshop
- Learn why we should protect native plants
- Learn to identify invasive plants
- Learn why invasive's should be removed
- Learn best practices in invasive plant removal
11 A.M. – 2 P.M. Field Trip
- *Lunch
- Hands on invasive identification & removal
- Hands on native identification
You are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for this outdoor event.
*Bring your own lunch and drink or lunch is available for purchase for $8.95 includes either a
deli-style ham and cheese, roasted turkey and cheese, or a veggie sandwich.
All served with chips, fresh fruit and a sweet treat with fresh bottled water.
**This is the first in a series of workshops on invasive species.
For more information please e-mail Becky at batcave25@yahoo.com or call 828-685-8798
Sponsored by
Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park Updates
The Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop is currently closed while these improvements are made.
All other trails remain open. From high atop the Chimney, take in 75-mile views of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. Stroll along the Hickory Nut Falls trail winding through hardwood forest to the bottom of the waterfall – the most spectacular spot to view the dramatic drop. Often overlooked, the Four Seasons trail begins near the Meadows and takes you through beautiful deciduous forest and boulder fields up to the Hickory Nut Falls trail. Families won’t want to miss the Great Woodland Adventure trail, featuring 12 discovery stations that educate kids (and parents!) about the animals that call the Park home.
This link to the NC Parks & Recreation website page will keep you updated on the status of our trail improvements. You can also share your comments here.
North Carolina Drought Advisory
Counties in the Hickory Nut Gorge in D2 Drought Conditions: Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, Rutherfordton
Released: March 1, 2009
The North Carolina Drought Advisory issued by the Drought Management Advisory Council has been updated to reflect drought conditions on February 10, 2009 indicated on the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina. Until further notice, the NCDMAC strongly urges the implementation of drought response actions, for all water users located in or dependent on water resources from the areas of the state experiencing the following drought conditions:
Drought Classification and Response Actions
D2-Severe Drought
The NCDMAC strongly advises all water users in the counties that are indicated on the US Drought Monitor Map as suffering from Severe Drought (D2) conditions to enact the following precautions in addition to previous advisories until further notice:
Implement Water Shortage Response Plans, if not already enacted.
Stay informed on drought conditions and advisories (www.ncdrought.org).
Participate, as appropriate, in regional and local coordination for the management of water resources.
Reexamine water delivery systems to minimize water loss and maximize water use efficiency.
Eliminate nonessential uses of water.
Evaluate the feasibility of incorporating water reuse, reclamation and/or recycling into daily operations.
Seek to reduce water usage by, at least, the same percentage as the percent differential between normal seasonal water supply availability and the actual water supply availability resulting from current drought conditions.
Increase public awareness and educational outreach programs emphasizing the need to conserve water.
The Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge meet the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Lake Lure Inn. Members and the public are welcome to attend.
We are currently looking for someone to serve as Secretary on our board of directors.
For more information contact Diana Richards
wolfeyes20201@bellsouth.net or call 828-625-8999
Join
Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge
Dues are $20 per person
Business membership is $50
Please mail your check payable to Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge
FHNG
P.O. BOX 31
CHIMNEY ROCK, NC 28720
*Your contribution is tax deductible! Thank You!
Photographer: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA,
United States
Save The Date!
