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A.T. Resource Management Plan Now Online
The NPS-Appalachian Trail Park Office recently announced the National Park Service’s Appalachian Trail Resource Management Plan. Printed copies are being provided to the Appalachian Trail maintaining clubs. A digitally indexed version of the plan with maps and appendices can be obtained by contacting Casey Reese, GIS specialist, at Casey_Reese@nps.gov or 304-535-4009.
 Appalachian Trail Resource Management Plan
The Appalachian Trail Resource Management Plan describes the baseline natural and cultural resource information available as of September 2008, and identifies new information that must be gathered in order to provide an adequate scientific basis for decision-making.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes through five major geologic provinces, with a range of vegetation that extends from northern hardwood, spruce-fir and alpine krummholz to southern Appalachian oak forest and high-mountain southern balds. It encompasses more than 2,100 documented occurrences of rare plant and animal species and rare or exemplary natural communities, 4,500 acres of open areas and mountain vistas, nine National Natural Landmarks, 19 properties that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hundreds of additional sites that are eligible for the National Register, and thousands of other cultural resource sites.
In fact, the Appalachian Trail contains so many outstanding natural, cultural, and scenic features that it sometimes seems impossible to protect and manage them all. Fortunately, the job does not fall to any one agency or organization. The cooperative management of the Trail includes more than 100 public and private partners that carry out many of the tasks needed to preserve the Appalachian Trail’s remarkable array of natural and cultural resources.
Why protect the Trail’s natural and cultural resources? Well, it’s not just that these resources need to be protected to comply with federal and state laws and policies. These resources represent our nation’s natural or cultural heritage, and if they can’t be preserved in a protected landscape like the Appalachian Trail, they probably can’t be preserved anywhere. Their presence also enhances the experience of the millions of people who visit, hike, and enjoy the Appalachian Trail, and the knowledge and appreciation of people who don’t visit the Trail but still value its existence. But there’s another reason to monitor, manage, and protect the Trail’s resources that may be more important than anything else. The Appalachian Trail—by virtue of its geographic expanse, its location on the heights of land across the Appalachian Mountain range, its iconic status, and its cornucopia of natural and cultural resources has the unique potential to provide scientists, researchers, visitors, educators, and the general public with a better understanding of the health of the environment throughout the Appalachian Mountains and the Eastern United States. That is, in fact, the basis for the A.T. MEGA-Transect.
The Appalachian Trail Resource Management Plan will guide resource-management activities conducted by the Appalachian Trail Park Office and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (and other partners who wish to participate) for the next decade, establishing priorities for funding projects and programs to manage and protect the Trail’s natural and cultural resources. In some cases, this plan recognizes and identifies the need for preparation of future action plans to deal with specific resource-management issues. It dovetails with ATC’s and ATPO’s intent to revitalize Appalachian Trail Club local management plans and to update understandings with our many governmental partners along the Appalachian Trail. It will be updated every five to ten years, or earlier if significant new program needs are identified or new planning direction is issued.
—Pam Underhill, Park Manager, Appalachian National Scenic Trail
World Water Monitoring Day 2008
Preliminary reports are in for water monitoring on the Appalachian Trail during World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD), a month-long event hosted annually by the World Water Federation. Water sampling took place at 172 sites in 11 of the 14 Appalachian Trail states. 649 individuals spent about 2,500 hours taking water samples and submitted their results. Among the groups participating were A.T. maintaining clubs, Scout troops, Indian Guide youth groups, and participants in the Trail to Every Classroom program.
WWMD takes place between September 18 and October 18 each year and engages communities in monitoring the condition of local rivers, streams, and other water bodies. Volunteers record water and air temperatures at each site and use simple kits to test for pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. This is the second year that ATC has encouraged its Trail clubs and members to participate. ATC intends to use the annual water-quality sampling event along the A.T. to get a snapshot of the status of A.T. water resources and to raise awareness of the significant freshwater resources that occur along the Trail.
Invasive Species Online
The Nature Conservancy has created a Wikipedia-style Web site compiling information on invasive species and their management. Called “Invasipedia”, site users can edit and add material. The resource includes descriptions, photos, natural history, management/monitoring recommendations and bibliographies for many species.
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