Joyce Kilmer Closure News Release, 10.22.10

 Contact: Lauren Stull, 828-479-6431 

10/22/2010 

For Immediate Release 

Forest Service to remove hazardous trees on Joyce Kilmer Trail 

ROBBINSVILLE, NC …. Forest Service personnel will be removing numerous dead and dying hemlock trees from the Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail corridor in November 2010. The area around the trail will be closed from approximately November 1 through November 14 to ensure operations are conducted safely with no risk to the public. All or a portion of the following trails will be closed: Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail, Stratton Bald Trail, Naked Ground Trail and Jenkins Meadow Trail. 

The Joyce Kilmer area near Robbinsville NC has been heavily impacted over the last several years by a catastrophic infestation of the exotic insect pest, hemlock woolly adelgid. Approximately 150 large hemlock trees are dead or dying, and must be removed to enhance the safety of the over 35,000 visitors who enjoy the area each year. Although located within the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Area, the trail is managed as a highly developed trail. The Nantahala Forest Plan directs managers to “Fell all dead or dying trees within the trail corridor” on this type of trail to ensure visitor safety. 

The Forest Service explored the possibility of closing the area until the trees naturally fell, but has chosen to remove the hazardous trees in order to keep the area open to the public. 

An analysis was completed to determine the type of treatment approach that would create the least impact to the wilderness values of the area. The analysis determined that 

extensive chainsaw use would be detrimental to wilderness values, by leaving many large saw-cut surfaces on the stumps and felled material within the foreground view of the trail. Instead, agency personnel will be using external explosive charges to directionally fall the dead and dying trees. The charges will be placed at varying heights on the tree trunks, to mimic the effects of natural events such as windstorms. 

According to Deputy District Ranger Lauren Stull, “Safety of the public and our employees is my top priority in implementing this project. A closure order will be in place and the area signed, to ensure the public does not accidentally wander into the area while operations are underway. However, we also want to minimize impacts to black bear and feral hog hunting in the area, and the opening weeks of those hunting seasons have been avoided. . We hope to have the area reopened by mid-November.” 

According to Brent Martin of The Wilderness Society, “The Forest Service proposal will minimize the visual impacts of the loss of these great trees and greatly increase the safety of visitors to the area. Robert Rankin, President of the Partners of Joyce Kilmer- 

Slickrock Wilderness states, “We realize this project is vital to ensuring the continued 

safety of the many visitors to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. This special place will continue to be available for both present and future generations to enjoy.” For more information contact Lauren Stull, Deputy District Ranger at 828-479-6431. 

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