We are excited to announce the expansion of our River Restoration Program, that started last December when Zac Napier, FLFR Naturalist, and volunteers began a Native Plant Garden along the Grand Staircase at the King’s Bend Scenic Overlook Park on Highway 79.
The River Restoration Program has two major goals. The first is to protect and restore the Locust Fork River’s ecological communities through the reintroduction of native plants propagated only from plants thriving in our area. The second goal is to establish a native plant nursery by cultivating these local varieties in order to reintroduce them at public access areas along the river and achieve a more sustainable eco-balance in these areas.
After the idea for this project developed, Jennah Gilley was asked to manage the project. “This is my dream position! I am a student of horticulture at Wallace State Community College and this project is near and dear to my heart. I hold close the health of and the relationship among and between our community and our beautiful natural places. And that is why managing this project is a dream position for me.”
After the idea for this project developed, Jennah Gilley was asked to manage the project. “This is my dream position! I am a student of horticulture at Wallace State Community College and this project is near and dear to my heart. I hold close the health of and the relationship among and between our community and our beautiful natural places. And that is why managing this project is a dream position for me.”
The next stage of the River Restoration Program is to construct a genuine hoop-house for native plant species and then furnish the new hoop-house with the necessary tools, work tables, pots, seeds and other supplies and services. Funding recently awarded to FLFR by CAWACO RC&D provided the resources for the hoop-house construction.
FLFR volunteers are meeting monthly on the first Saturday of the month to create the Native Garden along the Grand Staircase, the tasks entail planting seedlings, mulching, watering, removing weeds, etc.
We follow COVID protocol. Once the hoop-house is built we will meet on a weekly basis to start seedlings from seeds, etc. Join us!
FLFR volunteers are meeting monthly on the first Saturday of the month to create the Native Garden along the Grand Staircase, the tasks entail planting seedlings, mulching, watering, removing weeds, etc.
We follow COVID protocol. Once the hoop-house is built we will meet on a weekly basis to start seedlings from seeds, etc. Join us!
January 2020 at Mardis Mill
Under the guidance of Zac Napier, FLFR naturalist, Mr Painter, District 2 commissioner, & a crew of hard working men and volunteers did Privet removal on the road at the entrance of Mardis Mill Falls. Privet is the most invasive plant in Alabama! They could not get it all, so the process will continue. When the area dries out, the crew will level and add more gravel to new parking spaces. Thank you Zac, Brian Dean, Mike Laney, Commissioner Painter & crew from District 2.
Please remember there are trashcans to help us all enjoy a clean area and prevent trash from washing down to the falls and creek.
Please remember there are trashcans to help us all enjoy a clean area and prevent trash from washing down to the falls and creek.
River Restoration at the Scenic Overlook
December 2019
December 2019
As the smiles & camaraderie show, it was a grand day at Grand Staircase planting. Close to 30 folks rolled up their sleeves & lent a hand to beautify the Kings Bend Scenic Overlook Park area including students from Hayden, Susan Moore & J.B. Pennington in the Leadership Development Program and two teen scouts from Oneonta. Also, District 2 Commissioner Mike Painter looked in on the project which would not have been possible without the foresight and work of the Blount County Commission. Kudos to all who helped make it such a success including Turkey Creek Nature Preserve & our FLFR Planting Project leaders Zac Napier, Martha Hunter, Ellen Luce, & Mari Brindle. Pictures by Martha Hunter.
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