Barnardsville


Discussions ongoing for wilderness designation for Craggy Mountain


By Melinda Stuart David McFee and Scott Haas,


two representatives of the U.S. Forest Service, appeared before a community meeting Sept. 13 at the Big Ivy Community Center in Barnardsville to describe an area in the Pisgah National For- est located in steep terrain be- tween Carter Creek (just south of


Dillingham) and the Blue Ridge Parkway that may soon be pre- sented to Congress for official designation as a federal Wilder- ness Area. The area, called “Craggy Moun-


tain”, includes Douglas Falls and the hiking trail to it from the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center along the Blue Ridge Parkway. About 40 people showed up to hear about the background and


extent of the project, which has been under official consideration by various biologists and land use planners for more than 20 years. Local hunters and fishermen


in the audience were assured that “nothing substantial” would change if and when Congress acts to create an official Wilderness Area at Craggy Mountain. Rec- reational access would remain es- sentially the same. There would be


restrictions on motorized vehicles in the area, but there are presently no access roads and much of the terrain is extremely steep. Such designation could bolster


efforts to control invasive species that currently threaten the re- gion’s delicate ecosystem. Stoney Fork Road borders the


area on the west and runs between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Dillingham Road in the valley to


the north. The area encompasses more than 2,000 acres. The clos- est existing federal Wilderness Area is Linville Gorge Wilderness. Others in the greater Asheville area include Shining Rock and Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock. Forest Service personnel stated


that both U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler and U.S. Senator Kay Hagan are closely following the proposed designation.


Ashley Wood Stoves too


75 Roy Edwards Lane • Mars Hill, NC 28754


(828) 689-4323


Forest officials speak about the details of a possible Wilderness Area designation for Craggy Mountain during a Sept. 13 meeting at Big Ivy Community Center.


www.leicesterleader.com September 23 - September 29, 2010 - THE TRIBUNE/LEADER 5


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