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Field Trips
Pre-Conference and Post-Conference Field Trips
Pre-Conference Extended Trip 1 (PRT1): Camping/Hiking at Savage Gulf State Natural Area
Description: A popular destination for hikers, The Cumberland Plateau is the largest remaining forested plateau in the continental United States. Savage Gulf is 15,590-acre Natural Area located in Grundy and Sequatchie Counties, TN. Carved like a giant crowfoot into the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau; it is one of Tennessee's most scenic wilderness areas. Its sheer sandstone cliffs and rugged canyons provide extraordinary views. A significant feature is Stone Door, a 10 ft. wide by 100 ft. deep crack, forming from the top of the escarpment into the gorge below. It looks like a giant door left ajar and was once used by Indians as a passageway. Breathtaking waterfalls form at the head of many gorges, where streams drop off over hard sandstone cap rock. South Cumberland State Park manages the Natural Area, maintaining numerous miles of trails and a number of primitive campgrounds for visitors to enjoy.
This camping/hiking trip will be base-camped near the eastern rim of the gorge. Day hikes (5 to 10 miles each day) will traverse some of the most rugged and scenic areas of the South Cumberland complex. Getting a chance to experience the gorge and hiking through a mixture of forest types, you will be introduced to the beauty of the falls. As the water works its way to the bottom of the gorge, so shall you, having an approximate elevation change of 900 feet and scrambling across the diverse layers of limestone, sandstone, and shale. Working your way out of the gorge, you will be leaving only your footprints, but taking with you the awe and exhilaration that drew Native Americans to these passageways years before.
Leaders: Randy Hedgepath (Randy.Hedgepath@state.tn.us), State Naturalist, and Fran Wallas (Fran.Wallas@state.tn.us).
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Saturday Oct 11th, 8:00 a.m., returning on Monday, Oct 13th.
Meals: All meals are included in registration fee. Stoves are not needed. Please provide food requirements to Bill Avant (bill.avant@state.tn.us).
Lodging: Tent camping. Please leave extra items at your Nashville hotel to conserve space in the vans.
Gear List: Participants will need to bring personal essential items, including day packs, rain gear, cup, bowl, spoon, water bottle (2 liters recommended), flashlight w/ extra batteries, whistle, medications, toothbrush and paste, *boots, river shoes, *appropriate socks, hiking stick, *clothing (please come prepared with layers), *sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and *shelter. It could get cold in October, so a 0-20 degree bag is recommended. [* items are a MUST]. Check weather at Beersheba Springs, TN.
If participants need assistance finding gear, or have any questions, please contact Bill Avant at 615-532-0036 or bill.avant@state.tn.us. If you are bringing shelter and are willing to share it with another participant, please contact Bill Avant.
Resources:
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/SouthCumberland/
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/savage/
http://www.friendsofscsra.org/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 12
Difficulty: This will be 3 days of moderate to rugged hiking covering 5-10 miles per day.
Fee: 110.00/person
Pre-Conference Extended Trip 2 (PRT2): Mammoth Cave Regional Karst Tour
Description: Come explore Mammoth Cave and the karst of the Green River Bioreserve in south central KY. Mammoth Cave is the longest cave in the world with over 365 miles of explored passages. This enormous cave is in a rich karst region full of sinkholes, sinking streams and springs.
Upon arrival, our trip will begin with a day on the beautiful Green River. We will be canoeing the Green River with staff of The KY Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. The Green River Project Area has been a priority area for The Nature Conservancy for over ten years and their experienced staff will share their expertise as we canoe a portion of the Green River.
Day two will begin with a short drive to the Roundstone Native Seed farm. There we will find the largest producer of native warm season grass seed in the eastern United States. If time allows, we will talk briefly about the cave on their site, which houses the federally endangered gray bat. We will then travel a short distance to the town of Horse Cave, KY. Conveniently located in downtown Horse Cave, KY is the headquarters for the American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA) and Hidden River Cave and Museum. The museum begins our in-depth look at the underground world of caves. After viewing the museum, we will take a short tour of Hidden River Cave located right behind the museum.
Day three will begin with a short drive to a vantage point overlooking the vast sinkhole plain with discussion of karst geology, hydrology, and associated management issues. Following will be a quick look at an upland spring and sinking stream complex. We’ll then drive to the other end of the karst watershed and look at a large spring flowing into the Green River. Much of the morning, our discussion will focus on hydro-geologic and water quality issues specific to karst terrains. From the beautiful Green River, our karst trip will lead us to what lies between these sinkholes and springs; Mammoth Cave. We will take a specialized River Styx tour of Mammoth Cave where we will follow the water which formed this magnificent resource from the ridge tops to the lowest level of the cave where the flowing water is still forming this massive cave. This cave tour will have an elevation change of around 360 ft. and we will walk up 560 stairs throughout the tour.
Leaders: Cory Holliday, Cave and Karst Program Manager, The Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (cholliday@tnc.org), Laura Jumonville, Associate Director of Philanthropy, The Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (ljumonville@tnc.org), Jeffery Sole, Green River Project Director, The Kentucky Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Chris Clark, Chief Interpreter and Program Coordinator, American Cave Conservation Association, Dr. Rickard S. Toomey III, Director, Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel Saturday Oct 11th, 7:30 a.m. and return on Monday Oct 13th, 7:00 p.m.
Meals: Meals will be purchased en-route or at the hotel by the participants.
Lodging: Lodging for this trip will be at the Mammoth Cave Hotel. The hotel has wireless Internet available in the lobby, but not in the rooms. There is a restaurant located near the lobby with hours from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Hotel costs covered in the registration fee for field trip.
Required Items: Field Cloths (please dress in layers), Hiking Boots, Water Friendly Shoes and Clothes (for a cool weather canoe trip). Please leave extra items at your Nashville hotel to conserve space in the vans.
Resources:
http://www.nps.gov/maca/
www.nature.org
www.cavern.org
www.roundstoneseed.com
Capacity: 20
Difficulty: Approximately 8 miles (4-6 hrs) canoeing, low difficulty level, Moderate – 560 Stairs throughout the cave tour.
Fee: 245.00 single occupancy, 195.00 double occupancy.
Post-Conference Extended Trip 1 (POT1): Highland Rim and Cumberland Plateau Tour
Description: Early travelers to Tennessee were struck by the wildness of the Cumberland Plateau and the open condition of the “Barrens” of the Eastern Highland Rim. Both physiographic regions now encompass a number of fascinating natural features: the relic May Prairie; the sandstone glades and bluff lines of the Cumberland Plateau; the deeply entrenched streams of Walden’s Ridge; the remarkable karst window of Grassy Cove; the magnificent anticline that formed the Sequatchie Valley. In the spring of 1831, two prominent European naturalists, Gerard Troost and Charles Alexandre LeSueur took an excursion across much of this midsection of Tennessee, and left behind a fascinating collection of landscape illustrations. Our journey will explore ecological changes and contemporary natural area management along this route, with optional diversions for rock scrambling, rappelling, caving, rock hopping, and hiking. Please see the web resources below for extensive information about the numerous stops planned for this post-conference field trip.
Leaders: Milo Pyne from Natureserve (Milo_Pyne@natureserve.org) and Bobby Fulcher from Tennessee State Parks Cumberland Trail.
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Saturday, Oct 18th, 7:00 a.m., and returning on Monday Oct 20th, 5:00 p.m. There will be a pre-field trip evening gathering/social on Friday, Oct 17th (see your registration package for details).
Meals: meals will be purchased en-route by the participants; except for Dinner Sunday and Breakfast Monday (cost covered in the registration fee for the field trip).
Lodging: Hotel in Dayton TN (featuring continental breakfast, heated pool, and wireless internet) Saturday night, Head of Sequatchie Hostel Sunday Night. Hotel costs covered in the registration fee for the field trip.
Required Items: Sleeping bag (for night in hostel), Hiking Boots, Daypack, Water Bottles (2 liters recommended), Head-lamp w/ extra Batteries, and Gloves (for caving portion of trip),
Other Items: Field Cloths (please dress in layers), Binoculars, Hand lens, Personal Items, etc. (Please leave extra items at the Nashville hotel to conserve space in the vans).
Resources:
http://tennessee.gov/environment/parks/CumberlandTrail/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
(look for links to: May Prairie, Laurel Snow, Ozone Falls, and Burgess Falls)
http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/
http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/davenport/CLYDE_DAVENPORT.html
http://www.thehermitage.com/
http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/bstud/lesueur.html
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/tn_consv/archive/grass.htm
http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/speccol/pdf/gattinger_augustin.pdf
Capacity: 20
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult with moderate options provided.
Fee: 210.00 single occupancy, 155.00 double occupancy.
Thursday Field Trips
Field Trip 1 (FT01): The Barrens
Description: The Eastern Highland Rim of Middle Tennessee contains a unique prairie-like ecosystem called barrens. These barrens were once abundant in this region but have mostly been lost and become rare relics of our natural history. This field trip will visit May Prairie and the “barrens” of Arnold Engineering and Development Center where you will hike through two national natural landmarks (NNL), which are also state natural areas. Not only will you experience swards of tall grasses and fall flowering prairie wildflowers, but you will also learn about the history and stewardship of these unique areas and their on-going restoration. One of the stops will be at Sinking Pond (NNL): Sinking Pond, a 35-hectare seasonally flooded compound sinkhole, provides an outstanding example of ecological adaptability and its limits. Global climate change will also be discussed. The last stop will be at Bark Camp Barrens a 2,800-acre wildlife management area managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Bark Camp Barrens is listed as an Important Birding Area because of its diversity of grassland bird species including Henslow’s Sparrows.
Leaders: Milo Pyne ,Natureserve (Milo_Pyne@natureserve.org), Bill Wolfe, USGS (wjwolfe@usgs.gov), and Pandy English, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (Andrea.English@state.tn.us)
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:30 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 2-3 hours round trip
Notes: Hiking boots recommended
Resources:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri03-4217/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/may/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 50
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None
Field Trip 2 (FT02): Arnold Air Force Base: Natural Areas and Barrens Restoration
Description: Arnold Air Force Base (AAFB), winner of the 2006 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for Natural Resources Conservation, is located just west of the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee. Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) has contributed to the development of nearly every top national aerospace program since the 1950s. The first stop is Sinking Pond, a National Natural Landmark that is also a Registered State Natural Area. It is a 394-acre site containing 149 acres of bottomland hardwoods. This area represents the largest and best-developed overcup oak upland swamp in existence on the Highland Rim. The next stop is the Airfield Grassland. Grasslands on AAFB contain 25 rare plants, three plant communities, and the faunal communities they support. Important faunal groups include grassland birds (e.g., Henslow's sparrow & northern harrier), small mammals (e.g., meadow jumping mouse & prairie vole), and reptiles (e.g., pine snake). The last stop is the Saltwell Hollow Barrens Restoration Site. AAFB lies in the heart of the Barrens region of the Eastern Highland Rim. AAFB is restoring Barrens habitats by reintroducing fire as an ecosystem process.
Leaders: John W. Lamb, Conservation Biologist (John.Lamb@arnold.af.mil), George "Richie" Wyckoff, Wildlife Ecologist, Kevin Willis, Plant Ecologist.
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 8:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 1.5 hours
Notes: Hiking Boots Recommended
Resources:
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r4/arnold.htm
http://www.tnbirds.org/IBA/SitePages/ArnoldAirForceBase.htm
http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri03-4217/
Capacity: 30
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None
Field Trip 3 (FT03): Camp’s Gulf Caving Adventure
Description: A recent addition to Fall Creek Falls State Parks is Camp’s Gulf, donated by the J.M. Huber Corporation in 1998. Camp’s Gulf cave contains spectacular rooms three or more acres in size. Reaching them requires a climb over large breakdown. Depending on water levels, the blind Southern Cave Fish (Typhlichthys subterraneus) may be seen in the cave’s antechamber. An adjacent passage harbors hibernating Indiana Bats (Myotis sodalis) (in-season), and cave crayfish (Orconectes australis) inhabit other areas. The valley and sinkhole entrance are botanically rich. Protecting the resources of this fragile, increasingly visited cave and the many others in the region presents a challenge for park staff and resource managers.
Leader: Stuart Carroll – Interpretive Specialist, Fall Creek Falls State Park (Stuart.Carroll@state.tn.us).
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 2 hours
Notes: Wear caving clothes. Bring 3 light sources, helmet, water, snacks and personal first aid kit.
Resources:
http://tennessee.gov/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls/index.shtml
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/fallcreek/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 25
Difficulty: Strenuous
Fee: None
Field Trip 4 (FT04): Mammoth Cave: Natural Resources of This Rich Karst Region
Description: Come explore Mammoth Cave and the karst of the Green River Valley in south central KY. Mammoth Cave is the longest cave in the world with over 365 miles of explored passages. This enormous cave is in a rich karst region full of sinkholes, sinking streams and springs.
This trip will begin with a vantage point view overlooking the vast sinkhole plain with discussion of karst geology, hydrology, and associated management issues. We’ll then drive to the other end of the karst watershed and look at a large spring flowing into the Green River. Here, our discussion will focus on hydro-geologic and water quality issues specific to karst terrains. From here, our karst trip will lead us to what lies between these sinkholes and springs; Mammoth Cave. We will enter the historic entrance of Mammoth Cave where discoverers walked over 2,000 years ago. We will discuss the formation of the cave, the ecology within the cave, and the many human uses the cave has served. The cave tour has around 300 ft. of elevation change and a total of 440 stairs, including a 138-stair climb to see the Mammoth Dome.
Leaders: Laura Jumonville (ljumonville@tnc.org), Associate Director of Philanthropy, The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee and Dr. Rickard S. Toomey III, Director, Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning.
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:30 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip bus ride will take 3.5-4 hrs, plus the time spent at each stop.
Notes: Hiking boots are recommended.
Resources:
Capacity: 40
Difficulty: Moderate – 440 Stairs throughout the cave tour with one climb of 138 stairs. 300’ total elevation change.
Fee: None
Field Trip 5 (FT05): Warner Park/Radnor Lake: Urban Natural Area Tour
Description: The Warner Parks are one of the largest urban natural areas in the U.S. and comprise over 2,600 acres of rolling hills covered by Middle Tennessee’s western mesophytic forest. Participants will experience a moderate hike through the forest, observe an exotic pest plant removal site, and then travel to the Nature Center for a bird banding demonstration and overview of Park research. The tour will conclude with lunch and a presentation about funding natural area management projects. The tour will then head to Radnor Lake Natural Area.
Radnor Lake, the state’s first natural area, began in 1913 with lake construction as a water source for L&N Railroad. Now naturalized, the 85-acre lake is surrounded by nearly 1200 acres of outlier hills of the Western Highland Rim. Wooded slopes of western mesophytic hardwood forest consist of over 130 species including Chestnut Oak, walnut, and yellowwood and over 600 species of wildflowers. Fauna frequently seen includes otter, bobcat, mink, barred owls, waterfowl, and over 240 other species of birds.
Leaders: [Vera Vollbrecht, Director, Warner Park Nature Center, Nashville Metro Parks], [Deb Beazley, Assistant Director, WPNC], [Sandy Bivens, Superintendent of Nature Centers, Nashville Metro Parks], [Bob Parrish, Superintendent of Natural Areas, Nashville Metro Parks (Bob.Parrish@nashville.gov)], [Heather Gallagher, Environmental Education Specialist, Warner Park Nature Center, Nashville Metro Parks], [Eleanor Willis, Executive Director, Friends of Warner Parks], [Jon Martin, Director of Volunteers, Friends of Warner Parks, [Invasive Plant Control Staff]. Jesse Germeraad, Biology and Environmental Science Departments, Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee Paige Griffin , Biology and Environmental Science Departments, Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee Robert Loeb, Biology and Forestry Departments, Pennsylvania State University, DuBois, Pennsylvania Steven Ward, Radnor Lake Natural Area, Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment, Nashville Tennessee
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 8:15 a.m. and return by 4:30 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip in vans will be one hour
Notes: Hiking boots are recommended.
Resources:
http://www.nashville.gov/parks/locations/warner.htm
http://www.friendsofwarnerparks.com
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None
Field Trip 6 (FT06): Beaman Park/Bells Bend: Metro Parks: from the Rim to the River
Description: Explore two neighboring, yet very different, Nashville Metro Parks located in western Davidson County. Beaman Park is over 1,600 acres of rugged, forested hills and hollows situated on the Highland Rim while Bells Bend Park is 808 acres of pastoral, agricultural land bordered by the Cumberland River. A 3.5-mile hike through Beaman Park will showcase this deciduous forest with predominantly white oak forests on the lower to mid-slopes, mixed sub-xeric oaks on the upper to mid-slopes and mixed alluvial hardwood forest along the creeks. A specialized community of post oak/native perennial grass woodland type (barrens) contains Eggert’s Sunflower (Helianthus eggertii).
A 2-mile walk through Bells Bend Park will feature a rural landscape with gently rolling hills, scenic views across open fields, and over 30-recorded archaeological sites. Both parks also feature new nature centers that showcase sustainable design and missions of environmental education, resource management and natural area protection. Friends Groups, partnerships, grants, community support, research projects, restoration and exotic pest plants will be discussed.
Leaders: [LinnAnn Welch, Director, Bells Bend Outdoor Center, Metro Parks and Recreation Director, Beaman Park Nature Center, Metro Parks and Recreation (Linnann.Welch@nashville.gov)], [Bob English, Director of LEAPS Environmental Consulting], [Andy Sudbrock, Restoration Ecologist, Nashville Natives], [Steve Baskauf, Vanderbilt University, Department of Biological Sciences], [Friends of Beaman Park Representative], [Minda Lazarov, Chair, Coordinating Committee, Beaman Park to Bells Bend - A Conservation Community], [Julia Graves, President, Friends of Bells Bend], [Mike Moore, Tennessee Division of Archaeology]
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 8:15 a.m. and return by 4:30 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip in vans will be one hour
Notes: Hiking boots are recommended.
Resources:
www.nashville.gov/parks/nature
http://bioimages.vanderbilt.edu
http://www.nashvillenatives.com/
Capacity: 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None
Field Trip 7 (FT07): Land Between the Lakes Tour
Description: The Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area (NRA) is 170,000 acres of public land managed by the US Forest Service in western Kentucky and Tennessee. Managed for outdoor recreation and environmental education, the NRA has around 2 million visitors annually. Resource managers at the NRA are focused primarily on forest health and restoration of native community types. Resources cover a broad spectrum from near cove type forests to prairie. Several projects are underway to restore the disturbance ecology of upland forest areas. Tour stops will include a short orientation presentation at the Homeplace -1850, the Prior Creek Oak-Grassland Restoration Demonstration Area to see active timber management, the Devil’s Backbone shortleaf pine restoration area (a State Natural Area), and the Franklin Creek prescribed fire project area to discuss how prescribed fire is an integral part of management prescriptions.
Field trip discussion points may include silvicultural prescriptions, prescribed fire implementation and effects, disturbance ecology, ecosystem restoration, and herbaceous development.
Leaders: Jim McCoy (jrmccoy@fs.fed.us), Fire Management Officer, US Forest Service, Jason Loos (jloos@fs.fed.us), Forester, US Forest Service.
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:30 a.m. and return by 4:30 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip bus ride will take 4 hours, plus the time spent at each stop.
Notes: Hiking boots and hard hats (USFS protocol) are recommended. Protect yourself against ticks and chiggers. Bring plenty of water.
Resources:
Capacity: 44
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 8 (FT08): Cedar Glades and Barrens: Explore these Interior Low Plateau Ecosystems
Description: Three natural areas in the Central Basin of Middle Tennessee will be visited to explore the ecologically and geologically significant cedar glades and barrens. These natural communities are associated with karst topography where glades occur on shallow soils with exposed limestone outcropping and the barrens occur on deeper soils. The glades and barrens support many rare and endemic plants including the federally endangered Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) and leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa). Prescribed burning is used as a restoration or management tool to prevent forest succession in the fire-dependent barrens. The first stop will be Cedars of Lebanon State Forest Natural Area, a 1,043-acre natural area within the 9,420-acre Cedars of Lebanon State Forest. It is a designated a National Natural Landmark. The second stop will be Vesta Cedar Glade State Natural Area a 150-acre natural area, and the third stop will be Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area a 122-acre natural area.
Leaders: Andrea Shea Bishop (Andrea.Bishop@state.tn.us), Natural Heritage Botanist, TDEC Division of Natural Areas, Todd Crabtree, State Botanist, TDEC Division of Natural Areas, and David Lincicome, Assistant Director, TDEC Division of Natural Areas
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:30 a.m. and return by 4:30 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip bus ride will take 2.5 hours, plus the time spent at each stop.
Notes: Hiking boots are recommended. Protect yourself against ticks and chiggers. Bring plenty of water
Resources:
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 50
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 9 (FT09): Flat Rock Natural Area and Stones River National Battlefield
Description: Join us as we explore land management issues within the karst topography of Tennessee’s Central Basin. Stones River National Battlefield and Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Areas encompass high quality Lebanon limestone glades and the mosaic of plant communities associated with them including xeric limestone prairies, mixed cedar hardwood forests, and oak-hickory forests. Many rare and endemic plant species associated with glades are protected within these sites including the federally listed endangered Pyne’s groundplum (Astragalus bibullatus) and Tennessee purple coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis).
Stones River National Battlefield is a 650-acre National Park Service site that preserves the ground over which a pivotal Civil War battle was fought. Battlefield staff use a variety of natural resource management techniques to manage the cultural landscape including invasive species control, conversion of fields to native warm-season grasses, and prescribed fire. The 846 acre Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens has long been recognized by botanists and ecologists as one of Tennessee's most ecologically significant sites. Now protected by its natural area status, it is also an important research area.
Leaders: Terri Hogan, Ecologist NPS, (Terri_Hogan@nps.gov) and Sally Palmer, Ecologist TNC (spalmer@tnc.org).
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 9:30 a.m. and return by 4:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 2 –3 hour round trip
Notes: Flat Rock trail is rough and rocky at the beginning of the walk. Dress for the weather. Bring water. Wear good walking shoes. These areas are open and sunny. We recommend that you bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. There is a restroom at Stones River National Battlefield but none at Flat Rock.
Resources:
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/flatrock/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 44
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None
Field Trip 10 (FT10): Duck River Canoe Float and Hike
Description: Enjoy the cool fall weather while floating down the Duck State Scenic River and State Natural Area Complex. We will start the trip with a 2-mile hike through woods and cedar glades to the bluffs above the duck river (see web link below). This will highlight the unique ecosystems in the area. Next we will board our canoes and have a leisurely float on a flat easy stretch of river. This stretch of river has a gentle current and no real rapids. This is an excellent opportunity for fledgling canoeists. We will find an exposed gravel bar to take a lunch break on and examine the habitat of numerous rare mussels.
Leaders: Roger McCoy, Coordinator, Natural Heritage Inventory Program (Roger.McCoy@state.tn.us) and Forrest Evans (Forrest.Evans@state.tn.us), Stewardship Ecologist, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Natural Areas.
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 8:00 a.m. and return by 4:30 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip bus ride will take 2-hours, plus the time spent at each stop.
Notes: Shoes should be suitable for a 2-mile hike and to get wet in the river. You may wish to take a pair for each and a change of clothes.
Resources:
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/duckriv/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 26
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Fee: $25.00/Person
Field Trip 11 (FT11): Harpeth River Canoe Float
Description: A 5.5-mile adventure on Class 1-rated waters of the State Scenic Harpeth River awaits participants. Depending on water levels, paddlers will either put in at Kingston Springs and float to the Gossett Tract, a part of the Narrows of the Harpeth complex, and visit the prehistoric Mississippian Indian Mound Bottom site, or float the Bell’s Bend loop and visit 19th century industrialist Montgomery Bell’s iron forge site, containing the country’s oldest hand-excavated tunnel. Either float will feature park invasive plant removal and meadow restoration efforts.
Leaders: Jane Polansky – Manager, Narrows of the Harpeth State Historic Area (Jane.Polansky@state.tn.us) and Lisa Householder – Ranger, Narrows of the Harpeth State Historic Area
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 8:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 0.5 hours
Notes: Bring sunscreen and water. Restrooms at the take out.
Resources:
http://tennessee.gov/environment/parks/HarpethRiver/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 20
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: $25.00/person
Field Trip 12 (FT12): Carter State Natural Area Hiking and Caving
Description: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter State Natural Area, a unit of South Cumberland State Recreation Area, is situated below the sandstone tableland, which typifies the Cumberland Plateau. It was set aside to protect a cave with three impressive entrances. The mixed hardwood forest surrounding the cave is home to some rare plant species, including Cumberland Rosinweed (Silphium cumberlandensis). The 2-mile hike to the cave includes great views and interesting limestone formations. The trip will also include a stop at a large sandstone natural bridge.
Leaders: Randy Hedgepath, State Naturalist (Randy.Hedgepath@state.tn.us), and Jason Reynolds, Interpretive Specialist, South Cumberland State Recreation Area
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 2 hours one-way
Notes: Hiking/caving clothes and shoes. Bring flashlight or headlight w/ extra batteries for strenuous cave hike, snacks and water.
Resources:
http://tennessee.gov/environment/parks/SouthCumberland/index.shtml
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/mrnmrscarter/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 24
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous (600 ft elevation change over 2-miles)
Fee: None
Field Trip 13 (FT13): Swan Conservation Trust Tour: Waterfalls, Seeps, and Springs
Description: Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area is a beautiful 75-foot cascading waterfall in the middle of 90 acres of mature hardwood forest. The falls expose several geologic formations spanning millions of years on the edge of the Western Highland Rim. Diverse tree, wildflower, and shrub species, including an extensive population of oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), adorn the steep hillsides surrounding the falls. The 1.5-mile roundtrip trail descends through the woods to the base of the waterfall. Part II: “The Farm” is an intentional, spiritual community founded in 1971, based on the principles of nonviolence and respect for the earth. After lunch: hike a portion of the newly created Big Swan Headwaters Preserve, protected by Swan Conservation Trust. Numerous springs and seeps flow year-round, creating wet streamside habitats for a variety of plants. In mid-October, Large-leaved Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia grandifolia) will still be blooming in the seeps.
Leaders: Cynthia Rohrbach, Swan Conservation Trust (Cynthia.Rohrbach@state.tn.us)
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:30 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time:
Notes: Participants should be prepared for creek crossings and bring a dry pair of shoes for the return bus trip. Bring water and insect repellent.
Resources:
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/stillhouse/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 50
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None
Field Trip 14 (FT14): Natchez Trace Parkway/Land Trust Tour
Description: The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 445-mile linear park stretching from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. It follows the route of the historic road that led several lives – a game trail, the trail to the Chickasaw nation, a national postal road, and the boatman’s road used by settlers returning from their flatboat rides down to Natchez and New Orleans. The Natchez Trace fell into disuse with the advent of steamboats, but was revived as a unit of the National Park System as a Depression-era public works project. We will visit the northern end of the NTPky in the varied landscape where the Western Highland Rim rises above the Central Basin. It is an area of outstanding natural diversity. The trip will include a walk through an old ridge-top forest, a drive along the parkway, and a ride through some of the nations loveliest pastoral countryside. We’ll stop for lunch at the charming Victorian village of Leipers Fork (box lunch provided). We will witness the successful effort of the Land Trust for Tennessee to protect the parkway view shed and the farms along quite country lanes lined with stone fences and dotted with antebellum mansions.
Leader: Robert Brandt, Vice-President, Land Trust for Tennessee, and author of several books on Tennessee travel and outdoors (rsbrandt@tntlaw.net).
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 9:00 a.m. and return by 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 45 min initially, with 2/3 of day driving tour and 1/3 of day walking tour
Notes: Sturdy shoes are recommended.
Resources:
Capacity: 13
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 15 (FT15): Rare Crayfish Creek Walk/Wade
Description: No Natural Areas field trip is complete without a tour of key but unprotected resources. This trip will feature an examination of streams and springs of the East Fork Stones River watershed, home to the endemic and state-endangered Brawley’s Fork crayfish (Cambarus williami). This diminutive cobble burrower is known only from the greater Woodbury area of Cannon County. We will dive right in and look for the species at the type locality or other sites, then travel over the drainage divide to the Caney Fork River watershed to see the closely related Cambarus friaufi. Along the way we will review basic crayfish identification, biology, and habitats, and examine other crayfish species in these habitats.
Leaders: David Ian Withers, Natural Heritage Zoologist (David.Withers@state.tn.us), and Silas Mathes, Natural Heritage Data Manager (Silas.Mathes@state.tn.us).
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 9:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 1.0 hour each way
Notes: Hiking boots or rubber boots recommended
Resources:
http://twra4streams.homestead.com/Crayfish.html
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/pdf/CaneyFork_HardinCo_BrawleysFork_Crayfish2006.pdf
http://www.tolweb.org/Cambarus_(Glareocola)_williami
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/nhp.shtml
Capacity: 10
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 16 (FT16): Burgess Falls State Natural Area and Butternut Valley Reserve
Description: This trip offers one of state’s largest waterfalls, and the largest concentration of threatened butternut trees in the southeast. Burgess Falls is a small park consisting of a magnificent 110-foot waterfall and trail, a section of the Falling Water River containing several cascades, and artifacts of early hydroelectric power that once lighted the City of Cookeville. A native plant butterfly garden will also be seen. Heading back towards Nashville, outside Smithville, the Healing Stones Foundation protects 1,200 acres in Tennessee’s Eastern Highland Rim. The Foundation developed a partnership with the University of Tennessee’s Tree Improvement Program (TIP) in 1999, due to the large population of butternut (Juglans cinerea) occurring there. The TIP works to protect this species from an introduced canker disease that has decimated Butternut populations in the southeast. Participants will be given a walking tour, which will cover natural resources and history, educational programs, and an overview of Butternut research conducted on the property.
Leaders: Scott Schlarbaum (tenntip@utk.edu), James R. Cox Professor, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Melissa Squirlock, Education Coordinator, Butternut Valley Nature Center, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 1.5 hours
Notes: Wear sturdy walking shoes.
Resources:
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/burgess/
http://tennessee.gov/environment/parks/BurgessFalls/index.shtml
www.butternutvalleynaturecenter.com
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 22
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 17 (FT17): Greeter Falls and Stone Door Hike
Description: Discover the breathtaking landscape of the Cumberland Plateau on an exploration of two units of South Cumberland State Recreation Area. A 1.5-mile hike through mature Eastern Hemlock forest leads to scenic Greeter Falls. The trails here are noted for exemplary woody and herbaceous botanic diversity. After lunch at the Stone Door picnic area, an easy mile walk leads to panoramic views of the park’s valleys, or gulfs, from the Great Stone Door. View shed issues and activities will be discussed, and an area being treated for invasive Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) will be visited.
Leaders: John Christof – Manager, South Cumberland State Recreation Area (John.Christof@state.tn.us) and Jamie Hambrock – Ranger, South Cumberland State Recreation Area (Jamie.Hambrock@state.tn.us).
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 2 hours one-way
Notes: Wear sturdy walking shoes.
Resources:
http://tennessee.gov/environment/parks/SouthCumberland/index.shtml
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/savage/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 25
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Fee: None
Field Trip 18 (FT18): Bon Aqua Woods and HG Hill Property Tour
Description: This field trip will visit two natural areas in the Nashville vicinity that have only recently been identified and protected because of their mesic old growth forest characteristics. This includes the John Noel State Natural Area at Bon Aqua approximately 45 miles west of Nashville and the H.G Hills tract across from the Warner Parks in Nashville.
Bon Aqua is a small 30-acre remnant forest while the H.G. Hills tract is over 300 acres. The field trip will include hikes through both of these natural areas with ecological interpretation, discussion of past land use practices, and project history. Ecologists were amazed to find a forest with tree diameters averaging above 100 cm diameter on average within Metro Nashville. Visits to both of these natural areas should provide interesting discussion about old growth forest in a rural and urban context.
Leaders: Brian Bowen Tennessee, Natural Areas Program Manager and Allan Trentley, West Tennessee Stewardship Ecologist (Allan.Trently@state.tn.us).
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 9:15 a.m. and return by 4:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 45 minutes one-way.
Notes: Wear sturdy walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring water.
Resources:
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/bonaqua/
Capacity: 10
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None
Field Trip 19 (FT19): Native Plant Nurseries: Growild Nursery and Prairie
Description: GroWild Nursery was started in 1997 by Mike Berkley and Terri Barnes in an effort to advance the use of North American native plants in modern landscapes. GroWild is now recognized as one of the leading wholesale native plant nurseries in the eastern U.S. The 126-acre nursery is located on the Western Highland Rim and has almost 1,000 native species under cultivation, several of which are federally and state listed. One of the rarest eastern natives, Harbison’s Hawthorne (Crataegus harbisonii) can be seen at GroWild as well as Florida Stinking Yew (Torreya taxifolia). The nursery specializes in native restorations, including riparian zones and prairies, and has worked closely with the Tennessee state parks. Another specialty is the installation of greenroofs and raingardens. One of their most recent projects is the green roof at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. The tour will include a walk through the nursery as well as several prairies in different stages of restoration.
Leaders: Mike Berkley, Growild Nursery owner
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 10:00 am return by 4:00 pm
Approximate Ride Time: 2 hour round trip
Notes: Dress for the weather. Bring water. Wear good walking shoes, the grass may be wet. These areas are open and sunny. We recommend that you bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
Resources:
http://www.growildnursery.com/
Capacity: 26
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 20 (FT20): Birding in Nashville
Description: Local birding at it’s best! This foray will begin at Shelby Bottoms, in the floodplain of the Cumberland River near downtown Nashville. Maintained as old-field and threaded by paved trails, a variety of field, wood edge and wading birds may be seen. A stop at the new Metro Park’s nature center will be included. The second stop is Radnor Lake State Natural Area, a well-known bird sanctuary since it’s impoundment in 1914. Deep woods adjoining the 85-acre lake make this park a magnet for migrant warblers, which should still be passing through, and wintering waterfowl, a few of which might just be arriving. After lunch at Edwin Warner Park, a banding station overseen by Metro Parks will be visited. Besides seeing what’s been netted that day, Metro Staff will discuss recorded songbird population trends over the years of this long-time operation.
Leaders: John Froeschauer, Interpretive Specialist, Tennessee State Parks (John.Froeschauer@state.tn.us).
Schedule: Depart from the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:00 a.m. and return by 3:30 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: local tour
Notes: bring water, snacks, sunscreen, binoculars (loaners available). Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Resources:
www.nashville.gov/parks/nature
http://tennessee.gov/environment/parks/RadnorLake/index.shtml
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 6
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 21 (FT21): Invasive Pest Plant Identification Workshop: Identify the Threats to Our Native Landscape
Description: Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Nature Park is an 810-acre natural area with a greenway located on the western shore of the Cumberland River and is only 3 miles from downtown Nashville. The five miles of paved trails and five miles of primitive trails offer opportunities to experience bottomland hardwood forests, upland forests, wetland meadows, and ponds in this mostly alluvial floodplain. Although boasting lofty trees, fall flowering meadows, and birding, an experienced outdoor enthusiast will discover invasive pest plants threatening the natural integrity of the nature park. The visit to Shelby Bottoms will concentrate on invasive pest plant identification, management and techniques, results of summer treatments on various invasive plants, and of course the native splendor of the park.
Leaders: Lee Patrick (lee@ipc-inc.org), VP, Restoration Ecologist, Invasive Plant Control, Inc.,
Schedule: Depart the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 8:00 a.m. and return by 1:00 p.m. (4 hours)
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip van ride will take 40 minutes.
Notes: Approximately a 3-mile hike on paved greenway. Bring water, sunscreen and hat, and binoculars.
Resources:
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/
Capacity: 20
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 22 (FT22): Native Grass ID Workshop
Description: For this workshop, we will visit two of the highest-quality grasslands in Tennessee to teach field-recognition of Tennessee’s major autumn graminoid genera and species. The first site is Flatrock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area (FCGBSNA), a 846-acre preserve located in Rutherford Co., Tennessee. This site contains exceptional examples of limestone cedar glades, xeric limestone prairies, calcareous wet meadows, and associated rocky calcareous forests and is home to many threatened and endangered plants, several of which are disjunct from the Ozarks or Great Plains. The second site is May Prairie, a 250-acre preserve located in Coffee Co., Tennessee. May Prairie is contains one of the best remaining examples of wet prairie in the state as well as some outstanding examples of acidic flatwoods. May Prairie also contains a high number of species that are significantly disjunct from the Coastal Plain as well as many species which are considered threatened or endangered in Tennessee. Participants should expect to see and become familiar with the following graminoid genera: *Agrostis, *Andropogon, *Aristida, Bouteloua, Bulbostylis, Calamagrostis, *Carex, *Chasmanthium, Cinna, *Cyperus, Danthonia, *Dichanthelium, Digitaria, Dulichium, *Echinochloa, *Eleocharis, *Elymus, *Eragrostis, Festuca, Fimbristylis, Gymnopogon, *Juncus, Kyllinga, *Leersia, Microstegium, *Muhlenbergia, *Panicum, *Paspalum, *Rhynchospora, Saccharum, Schizachyrium, Schoenoplectus, *Scirpus, Scleria, Setaria, Sorghastrum, *Sporobolus, Tridens, Typha, and *Xyris (* means that multiple species will be observed for that genus).
Leader: Dwayne Estes, Ph.D. (tnplants@yahoo.com), Plant Taxonomist, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN
Schedule: Depart from Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday Oct. 16th at 7:00 a.m. and return by 5:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: 3 hrs total; Nashville to FCGBSNA (1 hr); FCGBSNA to May Prairie (45 min); May Prairie to Nashville (1 hr, 15 min)
Notes: The hike at both sites will be easy to moderate but may involve hiking off trail in grassy or weedy sites or through forested sections. Be prepared for ticks, chiggers, rain, walking in wet prairie with possible shallow standing water.
Things to bring: a minimum of 10X-power hand lens (preferably 16X or 20X), fine-tipped tweezers, notebook and pencil, water, sunscreen and hat.
Resources:
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/flatrock/
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/may/
http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/FNA/
http://herbarium.usu.edu/grassmanual/
http://state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/
Capacity: 12
Difficulty: hiking easy to moderate, but subject material moderate to difficult
Fee: none
Field Trip 23 (FT23): GPS Training w/ SE-EPPC-EDDMapS Overview Workshop
Description: A well-designed geographic information system consists of five key components: hardware, software, data, methods, and personnel. Data collection and the management of that data is one of the most important, time-consuming, and perhaps costly components of a geographic information system.
The GPS: The global positioning system is a growing trend that can be seen in a variety of areas. It is an incredibly useful tool when it comes to the collection of spatial data. Prior to the use of GPS, field technicians needed surveying equipment to determine their locations when conducting field surveys. This took a great deal of time and required a degree of knowledge in surveying methods that most technicians did not have. With this technology, field crews can conduct surveys and use the information collected by the GPS receiver to determine where they collected their samples. This information is vital to identifying any potential spatial patterns that may exist.
In this workshop, we will use the GPS to collect data and enter it into the EDDMapS. Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, or EDDMapS, was developed to provide a more accurate picture of the distribution of invasive species. EDDMapS allows land managers, agencies and others to set priorities for early detection and rapid response (EDRR), as well as formulate overall invasive plant management action plans.
Leaders: Bill Avant (Bill.Avant@state.tn.us) and Chuck Bargeron (cbargero@uga.edu).
Schedule: Meet in the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 8:00 a.m. completed by 3:00 p.m.
Approximate Ride Time: local
Notes: Appropriate dress to be outside for a number of hours is necessary. If participants need assistance, or have any questions, please contact Bill Avant at 615-532-0036 or bill.avant@state.tn.us. Participants may bring GPS derives although GPS devices will be provided.
Resources:
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/gis/
http://www.eddmaps.org/EDDMapS.pdf
Capacity: 13
Difficulty: Easy
Fee: None
Field Trip 24 (FT24): Invasive Pest Plant Site Management Planning Workshop
Description: Uncover the principles involved in a site evaluation of a unique 3,000-acre municipal natural area. We will begin the day reviewing the steps involved in developing an invasive species management plan in Nashville’s Warner Parks. Riparian, prairie and hardwood forest scenarios will be toured to provide examples of the invasive species problems relevant to this park. Attendees will learn the basic steps involved in defining the scope of the project, choosing the correct IPM strategies for control and address the restoration aspects of the project with a visit to a local native plant nursery. Instructors will discuss the tools relevant for controlling invasives on this site with regards to cultural and ecological concerns.
Leaders: Steven Manning, President, Invasive Plant Control, Inc. (steve@ipc-inc.org).
Schedule: Meet in the Downtown Doubletree Hotel on Thursday 16th, Oct 7:50 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Classroom time starts at 8:00. Vehicles depart at 8:30.
Approximate Ride Time: Round-trip bus ride will take 1.5-hours, plus the time spent at each stop.
Note: Hiking boots are recommended.
Resources:
www.nashville.gov/parks/nature
Capacity: 20
Difficulty: Moderate
Fee: None