National Public Lands Day Events Planned at Big South Fork and Obed Wild and Scenic River

Oneida, TN (2011-09-13) On Saturday, September 24, more than 180,000 volunteers, including those at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and Obed Wild and Scenic River, will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places. They’ll be taking part in National Public Lands Day, the largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in our country.

This year marks the 18th annual National Public Lands Day, an event that brings together thousands of volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and just plain enjoyment. Last year more than 170,000 Americans participated at more than 2,000 sites in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. This year, eight federal agencies and many state and local lands will participate in this annual day of caring for public lands. You are invited to join this effort by volunteering a day to help improve the Big South Fork and Obed Wild and Scenic River.

This year National Park Volunteers will be working on four different projects. Individuals are welcome to join any of these work groups. Wear comfortable work clothing, bring water and lunch and plan on spending a day outdoors.

National Public Lands Day Activities at Big South Fork NRRA:

§ The Timber Ridge/Ridge Top Volunteers will be working on the new Darrow Ridge Horse Trail installing drainage devices. The group will meet at the Timber Ridge Horse Camp at 8:00 a.m. CENTRAL TIME.

§ The Spruce Creek Trails Association will be working on the Proctor Ridge Horse Trail installing water bars. This group will meet at the junction of the Darrow Ridge and Proctor Ridge Trails at 8:00 a.m. CENTRAL TIME.

§ The Backcountry Horseman’s Association will work along the O&W Trail installing signs and blazes and doing clean up of the trail. The group will meet at Mill Creek Trailhead off the Mt. Helen Road at 8:00 a.m. CENTRAL TIME.

§ The fourth work group will meet at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. EASTERN TIME. This group will work on hiking and bike trails in the Bandy Creek area. Volunteers will be performing a variety of tasks such as trail clearing and installing trail markers.

National Public Lands Day Activities at Obed WSR:

National Park Service personnel will team up with personnel from Cumberland Trail State Park to work on the Cumberland Trail section within Obed WSR. The Obed section of the Cumberland Trail runs from the Rock Creek Campground to Devil’s Breakfast Table, a length of about 14 miles. This will be one of the most important volunteer events of the year, and the trail needs your help! Please meet at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time at the Obed Visitor Center, located at 208 North Maiden Street in downtown Wartburg. From there, work groups will be split up to work on the trail.

For further information, contact Big South Fork at (423) 569-9778 or visit the Big South Fork website at www.nps.gov/biso. You may contact the Obed WSR at (423) 346-6294 or the visit the Obed website at www.nps.gov/obed.