Adventures in the Holston River Watershed

While I haven’t had a chance to get into the water at any of the Holston River tributaries this semester, I thoroughly enjoyed my adventures in the watershed. I was able to visit new places and places I had been to many times with a new perspective. 

Taylor’s Valley is a place I visit frequently since it has excellent trout fishing and we have friends in the area. While I usually sit and enjoy the quiet and a good book while my partner fishes, I have spent the last few trips identifying plants. I found a horse chestnut, which isn’t a real chestnut, the last time I was there and gave it to my mom who has fond memories of playing with horse chestnuts as a child. 

 

Beartree Lake was a new location for me, and it is a small park within Mount Rodger’ recreational area. This adventure was interesting because when I arrived, it was a complete ghost town. My planned trail was hard to find, and when I eventually found it, there was a fallen tree roughly every 10 feet. I decided to follow the paved lake trail so I wouldn’t get lost, especially since there was no cell-phone service and the only other group there was a family that I could hear in the distance. Although I was slightly scared due to how abandoned the area was, it was incredibly peaceful to walk around in the quiet and explore an area that had previously been a busy recreational area. 

This is a private pond on The American Chestnut Foundation’s land. It was originally built as a retention pond, but when it didn’t serve its intended purpose, it was eventually stocked with large-mouth bass (kind of odd, but who doesn’t like fishing at a private pond?). When fishing, every time the line is reeled in, lots of vegetation has to be removed before recasting. After starting this project, I was intrigued to figure out what the problem plant was and discovered brittle naiad, and invasive species covered in the invasive plant section. While this is a secluded pond, with multiple people fishing in it then fishing in a different location, there is a risk of spreading plant fragments; I informed my coworkers of this discovery and explained the importance of cleaning their gear before moving to another location. 

 

The above pictures feature the small Cressy Creek watershed and the endangered Round Leaf Birch within the Holston River Watershed. This was my second visit to the area, and while helping researchers collect data for Round Leaf birch trials, I was able to collect a lot of information for the “Common Trees” presentation. Some of my key takeaways included how common tulip poplars are in the area, and I learned how to identify witch hazel, which I had thought was an herbaceous plant originally. 

 

Finally, my personal favorite trail in the watershed (and Cooper’s as well) is the Virginia Creeper trail. This area is heavily trafficked by walkers/hikers, runners, bikers, and even horseback riders. I utilized this area to find common trees, and unfortunately, some of the invasive species in the area. I frequently take my dog, Cooper, to the trail for walks, and ride my bike when I'm able. 

While my field trips were primarily focused on researching trees and invasive plants in the area, I also learned a lot about the area through researching online and meeting staff and volunteers for local organizations at events. I had previously met volunteers for the organization Appalachian Voices, where I learned about mining that had occurred in the past and is still happening, which is why I decided to focus on mining as a special threat. Recently, I met a Nature Conservancy staff member at an event, and we spoke about common and endangered mussels in the North Fork of the Holston River. All the analysis for the Abingdon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) were completed from the comfort of my couch, but I learned about the water quality parameters measured in the watershed, and how these analyses will be used to encourage cost share programs for farmers in southwest Virginia. 

The semester may be coming to an end soon, but this watershed will be my home for the foreseeable future. I have always felt a deep connection with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed since I grew up on the East Coast of Virginia, and I now feel a deep connection with the Holston River Watershed. I am eager to continue learning about the species found in the area and finding ways to help mitigate the special threats the watershed faces.