Rivercane to help preserve Cherokee culture

Volunteers are needed to help plant rivercane at Rivers Edge Park in Clyde at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. 
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Revisions proposed for state groundwater standards

An online public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, will take comment on proposed revisions to the N.C. Groundwater…
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Arboretum shifts to winter hours

Starting Monday, Jan. 11, the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will resume its normal winter hours of 8 a.m. to 7…
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Panthertown marked milestones in 2020

As 2020 shifts to the rearview, Friends of Panthertown is celebrating a slew of accomplishments earned despite an ongoing pandemic. 
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Report mudpuppy sightings

Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are asking the public, particularly anglers, to submit any sightings of mudpuppies to…
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New bee species found in the Great Smokies

By Jonathan Austin • Contributing writer | A recently documented bee species has been identified living in the Great Smoky…
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Pisgah National Forest grows at Linville Gorge

More than 200 acres have been added to the Pisgah National Forest at Linville Gorge thanks to a recently completed…
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Uncertain season: ATC issues 2021 thru-hiking guidance as pandemic continues

Appalachian Trail thru-hiker season was already in full swing when coronavirus fears prompted widespread lockdowns in March, and the Appalachian…
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Virtual nature: Highlands Biological gets creative with outreach amid pandemic

By Geoff Cantrell • Contributing writer | In a typical school year, Highlands Biological Station serves nearly 10,000 students through…
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Parking lot project concludes at Chimney Rock

A 10-month-long construction project to restore a retaining wall and expand a parking lot washed out during heavy rains in…
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Ten great outdoor moments from 2020

There’s been a lot of focus lately on all the ways that the last 12 months have been hard and…
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Trail of Love: Despite paralysis, EBCI member will cycle Remember the Removal

Maranda Bradley knows exactly what her 2015 self would say if she knew what the 2020 version was up to…
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New bike trails coming to Wilson Creek

A project that will add 10 additional miles of mountain biking and hiking trails to the Wilson Creek Area in…
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Go to guide school

Nantahala Outdoor Center will offer its much-loved Guide School in 2021 
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WCU professor tapped for Virginia governor’s coastal planning team

Rob Young, director of Western Carolina University’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, was recently appointed by Virginia Gov.…
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Three added to Agricultural Hall of Fame

The N.C. Agricultural Hall of Fame now has three new members following the induction of John Holman Cyrus, Fred N.…
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GSMA releases butterfly-centric 2021 calendar

The official 2021 Great Smoky Mountains Association wall calendar, featuring stunning macro photography of butterflies and moths found in the…
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Mask up at the gym

Masks must be worn inside gyms and other fitness facilities following Gov. Roy Cooper’s latest executive order. 
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Smokies species inventory hits 21,000

The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory has hit a new milestone in its quest to document the incredible biodiversity of the…
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‘100 Favorite Trails’ map gets update

More than 35 Carolina Mountain Club members banded together to create an updated version of the widely popular “100 Favorite…
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Safety net: Nonprofit aims to bolster search and rescue ops

It was the fall of 2019, and Bill Zimmerman had just hopped in a truck with other members of the…
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Hunt safe this Christmas

Inland fishing and hunting license sales have skyrocketed in 2020, with a 23 percent increase in licenses sold since stay-at-home…
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Awards honor sustainable forestry

A new round of winners has been announced for the annual EcoForester Awards, honoring the people and organizations that are…
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Noland certified in playground inspection

A Waynesville Parks and Recreation employee was recently certified as a playground safety inspector. 
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USDA launches contact center

A new contact center is available for people with questions for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
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For the love of bees: Bee feeding is a pastime with a purpose

For Ash Rovecamp, keeping honeybees has never been about honey. “I don’t really consider myself a beekeeper,” he said. “I’m…
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Become a junior bird expert

Ornithology Season is underway for the N.C. Arboretum’s ecoEXPLORE program, which encourages kids to connect with the outdoors and engage…
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Rare shrub seeds for sale

Alarka Institute in Cowee is now selling seeds and young plants of the Franklinia, one of the most rare shrubs…
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Local climate group seeks new members

Despite the pandemic, the recently formed WNC Climate Action Coalition is still hard at work.
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Frugal Backpacker closes Asheville store, moves online

The beloved discount outdoor gear store The Frugal Backpacker has announced that it will close its stores in Asheville and…
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Conservation projects receive $1.25 million

A total of $1.25 million for six projects in far Western North Carolina received funding in this year’s round of…
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Drive-thru Winter Lights

The annual Winter Lights event at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will be a drive-thru experience this time around. 
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Southern forests recognized for fishing events

The U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Region received the 2019 National Rise to the Future — Fish Your National Forest Award…
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Man dies following fall from Smokies overlook

An Alabama man is dead following a fall from an overlook in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 
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Smoothing the way to LeConte: Smokies completes $1.3 million trail project

The few remaining leaves hanging in the trees shine like stained glass as the morning sun rises high enough to…
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Volunteers remove 1.8 tons of trash from Lake Chatuge

More than 50 volunteers showed up for MountainTrue’s 10th annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup on Nov. 7, removing 1.8 tons…
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Conservation groups sue over red wolf policy

A trio of conservation groups is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for alleged violations of the Endangered Species…
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Federal money coming to WNC public lands

Public lands in Western North Carolina are set to get a chunk of the $950 billion approved for deferred maintenance…
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Blue Cross donates $275K to fight food insecurity

Blue Cross NC has contributed $275,000 to the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project this year to help combat food insecurity caused…
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Smokies bridge projects will require road closures

Work has begun to replace seven bridges in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and repair seven others, improvements made…
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Seasonal burns begin at Cades Cove

Approximately 689 acres of fields in the Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be burned…
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Grant will support bear-safe camping in the Smokies

A $4,000 grant from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will help the Great Smoky Mountains National Park practice proactive bear management…
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Moment to shine: Outdoor economy conference focuses on widening the base

In the wake of COVID-19, 2020 has been a banner year for the outdoor recreation economy, and throughout the month…
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Trump administration criticized for implementation of landmark conservation law

Environmental groups are decrying the Trump Administration’s execution of the Great American Outdoors Act and the Dingell Act, which permanently…
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Smokies search and rescue gets a boost

Friends of the Smokies and its supporters have raised $89,000 this year to fund search and rescue efforts in the…
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Virtual race raised $70K for the Smokies

The fourth annual Cades Cove Loop Lope has raised $70,000 for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park despite having to…
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Pisgah plans prescribed burns

The Pisgah National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burns in multiple areas of the forest this week.
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Man dies following fall from Smokies overlook

An Alabama man is dead following a fall from an overlook in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Volunteer to build community outdoors

Outdoor Mission Community, formerly known as Outdoor Mission Camp, is seeking volunteers to aid in trip planning, leadership, skills certifications…
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Use caution during wildfire season

Fall wildfire season is underway in North Carolina, and the N.C. Forest Service together with the U.S. Forest Service is…
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