Rally ‘Round the River: Conference aims to unite Macon around watershed conservation
Twenty-five years ago, a group of residents, conservationists and agency officials met in Macon County to talk about water. At…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Lake J eagles
Most readers know the pair of bald eagles that nested at Lake Junaluska this spring were unsuccessful. There is no…
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Bethel farmer added to Ag Hall of Fame
Haywood County farmer Bill Holbrook has been inducted into the Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame for his tireless…
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Volunteers restore Smokies building
Key elements of the historic Palmer Barn in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are now…
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Outdoors retailers open in Cherokee
Cherokee’s new outdoors retailers will host a grand opening celebration 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at their…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Musings from count year 2018
This past spring was one of the more trying ones with regard to my annual U.S. Forest Service bird point…
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Retaining wall causes closure at Chimney Rock
A collapsed retaining wall at Chimney Rock State Park has caused the park to be closed since the collapse occurred…
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Kids in the Creek design winners announced
Lucas Cody of Bethel Middle School won this year’s Haywood Waterways Association Kids in the Creek T-shirt design contest.
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Grant helps preserve A.T. view
A $21,500 grant from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will help Mainspring Conservation trust conserve a 504-acre property in Graham County.
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Through the raincloud: Agricultural community takes stock after record-breaking rains
A month of rain capped off by the arrival of Tropical Storm Alberto has caused massive flooding, landslides and loss…
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Pigeon River Fund awards grants
Environmental groups in Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties recently received a total of $217,010 to improve water quality, wildlife habitat…
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Cheoah and Tusquitee get new district ranger
The Cheoah and Tusquitee Ranger Districts of the Nantahala National Forest have a new district ranger following the May 29…
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Junaluska pool to reopen
The pool at Lake Junaluska will likely open this week following renovations that began in March.
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Highlands Biological gets new director
The Highlands Biological Foundation has a new executive director with the hire of Charlotte Muir.
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National Trails System turns 50
A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act will kick off at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May…
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Parkway facilities open for the summer
Memorial Day Weekend signals the beginning visitor season on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with all facilities now reopen after winter…
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Smokies celebrates 20 years of new discoveries
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is celebrating 20 years of conducting biodiversity inventories, with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory…
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Base Camp prepares to go mobile
A mobile recreation program offering outdoor recreation opportunities in communities throughout Haywood County will begin June 18, and a meeting…
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Lands protected in WNC
From mountains to coast, a cadre of land conservation agencies is working to preserve the properties most important to North…
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Telling NOC’s story: Book shows early years of outdoor center through the eyes of staff, leaders
It was 1972, and the world of whitewater paddling was changing. Americans were just about a decade into experimenting with…
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Smokies visitors spend $922.9 million in gateway communities
A new report from the National Park Service shows that 11.3 million visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Back in the saddle
I have had, since 2004, one of the best gigs any bird nerd could ask for. That was when I…
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Report hellbender sightings
If you’ve seen a hellbender, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wants to know.
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New videos explore local food scene
A new video series celebrating Western North Carolina’s local foods economy — and the small businesses and communities that drive…
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Red wolf status grim, review says
A five-year red wolf status review, released April 24, showed that only about 40 red wolves are left in the…
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Job Corps center expands opportunities
The Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is increasing its partnerships and training options, providing more opportunities for the students…
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Masa to be added to A.T. Hall of Fame
The late George Masa, whose photographs were pivotal to the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will be…
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City Lights Café recognized for green practices
City Lights Café in Sylva has been recognized by the state for its sustainability efforts, earning certification from the N.C.…
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Best of the burden: Smokies mules make backcountry operations possible
In popular culture mules get a bad rap, cast as stubborn, ornery and even mischievous. But Danny Gibson, animal packer for the…
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Road work begins in the Smokies
A handful of road projects will impact travel in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the coming weeks.
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Smokies chief ranger retires
After 35 years of service — 30 of them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Chief Ranger Steve…
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Glenville no wake zone request denied
Jackson County’s request for a no wake zone on Lake Glenville has been denied following an April 26 vote from…
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HCC students take fifth at national competition
The Haywood Community College student chapter of The Wildlife Society finished fifth place overall against 24 other schools at the…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Puc Puggy’s digs
One of Western North Carolina’s most celebrated visitors acquired his love of — and curiosity about — nature at his…
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Hanging Dog Campground closed
Hanging Dog Campground, located in the Nantahala National Forest near Murphy, will not re-open following a decision from the U.S.…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Testing the early spring winds
I had the great pleasure of leading an early spring birding trip for Alarka Expeditions this past weekend, April 21-22.…
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WNC tackles cross-state run and cancer simultaneously
Black Mountain resident Kenny Capps is in the midst of a cross-state run that he’s undertaking while also battling an…
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Bethel student wins state poster contest
Bethel Elementary School third-grader Jade Cody has been named the state winner in a poster contest sponsored by the N.C.…
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Backyard trails: Local mountain bike trails surge in popularity
In 2013, Western Carolina University cut the ribbon on 7-mile trail system zig-zagging an otherwise unbuildable piece of university property.…
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The Naturalist's Corner: Not quite a wrap
The starting date for my annual bird survey for the U.S. Forest Service is May 1. All of our nesting…
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Smokies starts spring openings
Spring is coming to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with many seasonally closed facilities reopening for warmer weather.
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Outdoor 76 to join Motion Makers in Cherokee
Franklin-based outfitter Outdoor 76 has announced that it will open a second store, joining Motion Makers Bicycle Shop at a…
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Database boosts plant research in Toxaway
The Southern Highlands Reserve has launched a digital database to advance its ability to research native plants from its perch…
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Synchronous firefly lottery to open April 27
This year’s synchronous firefly viewing in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be Thursday, June…
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Haywood students win Envirothon
Tuscola High School students came in first place during the annual Area 1 Envirothon, held March 23 in Waynesville.
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A.T. identities: Thru-hikers share their trail names’ origins
On the Appalachian Trail, everybody’s story is the same, in a sense — the chill of the cold, the heat…
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Bear activity prompts warning in Panthertown
An increase in serious bear encounters in Panthertown Valley has led the U.S. Forest Service to recommend that backcountry campers…
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Clean up the Tuck
The nation’s largest single-day effort to remove trash from a river will return to Western Carolina University with the 34th…
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Team up for the planet
In a month-long celebration of Earth Day, the #WNCforthePlanet initiative invites businesses, civic groups and community organizations to take part…
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‘Death Race’ raises money for students
In a 68-mile fundraising run through the mountains of Northern Georgia, Matt Kirby conquered the terrain in 20 hours and…
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