Report shows Smokies 'beginning to die' [ Our Forrests

Winston-Salem Journal ^ | Thursday April 15, 2004 | Associated Press

[kemosabe]

GATLINBURG, Tenn.

A new report by the National Parks Conservation Association on the future of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park paints a dire picture.

"This park is beginning to die," said Tom Kiernan, the conservation group's president. "This assessment clearly shows the park is in danger, and its long-term viability is at risk."

High ozone levels, acid rain, continued underfunding and a proposed road on the north shore of Fontana Lake in North Carolina are combining to endanger the park's future, Kiernan said.

Much of the damage could be slowed or prevented if certain steps are taken, he said, including rigorous enforcement of the federal Clean Air Act and increasing the park's budget.

"The question is will our society and Congress step up to implement these recommendations," Kiernan said.

If the Smokies aren't protected, the negative impact on the region's economy and quality of life could be significant, he said.

[yawningotter]

Why not just ban people from Pigeon Forge? Why not just ban Pigeon Forge?

[redangus]

As a regular visitor to the Park since the mid 70's, and an avid flyfisher, I agree with your assessment. The growth in the area especially the parking lots they call Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg is scary and disturbing. I would also support the shutting down of coal and oil fired power plants in return for the opening a requisite number of Nuclear PP, but of course the envirowackos wouldnever support this.

[billbears]

No offense but leave the Road to Nowhere alone. Used to drive up there on the weekends while attending WCU. It's about as much fun going out there at night as it was walking across the trestle just outside of Sylva. Anyway, the expansion of 19/23 northward could bring some business back into the area. They don't need another road through the Smokies in that neck of the woods

[Congressman Billybob]

Since you attended WCU, do you know any professors there who have their heads on straight, i.e. aren't hard-wired lefties, that you can recommend me to? You know I can perform well if invited up there on any pretense. And WCU is important to me.

Cordially,

John / Billybob

[Ditter]

Intresting.

[StACase]

No that one is real, Just come to the Adirondacks where quite a few lakes have been killed off. Most notably

Oh really! Follow this link to an Accuracy in Media newsletter from 1990. Acid rain may be a measureable thing, but the damage claims are hype.

[HangnJudge]

Discussion on Renewable Energy being
touted as a "Work Issue"
on the FOX site

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117223,00.html

Free market theory should be applied instead
of a "Jobs generating" political process
If an idea/process is workable, money will flow
toward it like crows to a June bug

[xzins]

What about the Fed's promise?

[PAR35]

I've watched with regret the steady loss of trees from the ridge lines of these noble mountains

Some of the mountaintops have always been treeless (that's why they are called "Bald"s - see, for example, Brasstown Bald in nearby Georgia. In fact, the mountains just north of the park are named the "Bald Mountains".

[billbears]

There's a guy I had for history classes I took as electives. Was from Georgia but attended Oxford I believe. Imagine someone with an English/slightly Southern accent. Seemed to have his head on straight but he taught mostly ancient history. Unfortunately most of my professors were left or center. Of course considering the latest version of the Republican party, heck they may fit right in...

I'll see if I can remember any names and send them your way

[AuntB]

Ah, be careful with all that logic. It scares some folks.

[Delphinium]

just log it.

[billbears]

The less the Fed does, the better. Should have never made the promise in the first place. Don't make it worse by trying to 'fix' it. Bryson City is recouping some of its losses. And the whole area is slowly turning into a retirement area. You want them to be more like Cashiers and Highlands? Check out the Franklin area. Last I heard the dern place is booming with no help from eastern Tennessee. Of course it's tourist money and that doesn't go far. Try working in a city that runs on that. I did it for seven years in Asheville. The average native North Carolinian couldn't afford to buy a house in the area. That is, unless you wanted to live out in Canton under the paper mill..

[satchmodog9]

also, forest areas are carbon sinks. They actually filter the crappy air. That is right from my lefty hippie environmental management teacher at the radical commie DePaul university. I wonder when the lefties will take the name of a saint off the school.

[HangnJudge]

Yup - I've hiked many of the balds in the Southern Appalachians

The ridge line deforestation is different
LeConte is a good example ask anyone who has frequently visited it's lodge and seems clearly progressive
for whatever reason

[ForOurFuture]

"Acid rain" is another Left-wing, envirowacko theory that never was credible and too many of you out there bought that one too. It's always the latest Chicken-Little scare tactic than can't quite be refuted, nor proven, why don't we use those tactics?

Acid rain is real, guy. It's not a bogeyman created by liberals. It's a documented phenomenon. Don't be a fool.

Give those goofy people a push out the door--please!

Give the ignorant people a push, too.

[farmfriend]

Thanks for calling my attention to that post. I'm having it removed.

[PistolPaknMama]

Thought you might ping the SC Freepers!

[farmfriend]

Doing the ping properly this time. Sheesh. Post 44 was mine and I had it pulled.

[Kay Ludlow]

I've watched with regret the steady loss of trees from the ridge lines of these noble mountains and steady increase in standing dead wood as the Tennessee Valley Ozone levels have gradually raised, a funneling effect from pollutants to our South and west.

I too watched the trees on my beloved mountains die off, leaving the ridgetops looking forlorn. That was in the 80's, from the gypsy moth infestation. In the 70's, my grandfather proudly took us all to the top of his mountain to see a Chestnut tree in bloom, the first in decades. He remembered when the forests were mostly chestnut; they were wiped out by the blight in the first half of the last century.

Change is a natural part of the environment. Species rise up, become strong, then are knocked down by something else trying to become strong. This isn't new; it didn't start in the last 100 years, and it's not all the fault of humans. Species (plants, animals, viruses, molds as well as people) are constantly trying to expand their foothold on their territory. They battle each other for precious air, water and land, and there are always winners and losers.

Don't buy into the environmentalists view that all the changes we see around us are unnatural and caused by humans. Their real agenda is to control us.