(Asheville, NC) The National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Regional Director has approved the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the right-of-way permit (ROW) for a New Asheville – Enka 115kv West Line Crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway Corridor in Buncombe County, NC. The FONSI has determined that there will be no significant environmental […]
Parkway Seeks Input For Roanoke Valley/ Blue Ridge Parkway Trail Plan
(Asheville)—The Blue Ridge Parkway (Parkway) is seeking public input, through September 12, 2011, on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a trail plan for the Roanoke Valley section of the Parkway. The purpose of this EA is to describe the affected environment and analyze potential impacts associated with a no action alternative and two action alternatives. […]
Grandfather Mountain Partners In Providing “New Opportunity” For Women In Appalachia
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation recently partnered with the New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk. Jennie Abbott, an intern from the program, shadowed the Mountain’s naturalists for two weeks this summer. Abbott, a self-proclaimed “nature fanatic” from Cullowhee, N.C., completed her internship with Grandfather Mountain’s Naturalists, and gained experience in […]
Blue Ridge Parkway Construction at NC-80 Access and Buck Springs Gap Overlook
(Asheville/Marion/Spruce Pine, NC) Reconstruction of the Blue Ridge Parkway at the NC State Highway 80 access ramp and the Buck Springs Gap Overlook, located at Milepost 344, begins August 15, 2011. The project is expected to be completed by September 15, 2011. The overlook will be closed for most of this time to stage materials, […]
Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Report for August 5, 2011
This is the Blue Ridge Parkway Wildflower Report for the first week of August. Beginning on the North end around the Peaks of Otter in Virginia, visitors will probably find Jewel Weed, Butterfly Weed, Common Milkweed, Yarrow, Black Cohosh, Woodland Sunflower, and Deptford Pink. All of these are common summer varieties here in the Blue […]
