Wilderness Areas May Be Created Soon in Virginia
Most of the old-growth forest in the East is gone. But 320 acres of it have survived in the Raccoon Branch area of Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest, and a bill introduced recently by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Senator John Warner (R-VA) would permanently protect those old trees and 3,900 adjoining acres.
That area is one of seven southwestern Virginia wilderness areas that would be created by the legislation. The bill also would expand six wilderness areas in Jefferson National Forest and establish two national scenic areas, which provide slightly less protection than wilderness areas. In total, 43,000 acres would be made part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, while 12,000 acres would be designated as national scenic areas.
“It’s hard to describe the sense of peace I feel when I’m up around Raccoon Branch,” says Annie Malone of Sugar Grove. “It’s a great release from the pressure cooker of everyday life, and along with the feeling that I’ve traveled back a couple of centuries, I feel blessed to be able to offer this as a gift to the next couple of centuries.” The area, which includes eight major trails, is within popular Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area, which draws campers, hikers, horseback riders, anglers, and others who enjoy outdoor recreation.
There are tracts of old-growth forest left in other proposed wilderness areas too. Many of the areas in the bill also contain portions of the Appalachian Trail, 280 miles of which run through the national forest. “These places are vital to a wide range of wildlife, including neotropical migratory songbirds, wild turkey, and black bear,” says Mark Miller of the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, one of our partners.
The six other proposed wilderness areas are Garden Mountain, Lynn Camp Creek, Hunting Camp Creek, Stone Mountain, Brush Mountain, and Brush Mountain East. The six existing wilderness areas that would be expanded are Mountain Lake, Lewis Fork, Little Wilson Creek, Shawvers Run, Peters Mountain, and Kimberling Creek. Both of the proposed national scenic areas, Bear Creek and Seng Mountain, are in Smyth County.
“This is about much more than recreation,” notes Bart Koehler, who directs our Wilderness Support Center and has been working closely with local conservationists on this campaign for several years. “Other benefits include the clean water that runs off these undeveloped forests and into municipal systems and the boost for businesses that serve all the visitors drawn by this wilderness. We have support from chambers of commerce, local government, churches, and others. We salute Congressman Boucher and Senator Warner for taking the lead on Capitol Hill and for making the case with such enthusiasm.”
Please urge your representatives in Congress to cosponsor S. 942 or H.R. 1975.
