by Organizer Shavon Peacock
Breaking News: Added October 2009
PDF: Pamunkey Excursion - Photos by Andrew and Shavon Peacock
Qualified Instructor/Leader Garrie Rouse - Saturday September 19. Meet at 2:00 p.m. - visit small local museum, launch at 3:30 and off river by 6:00 p.m. Launch site is about an hour and 15 minute drive from Richmond. View Garrie’s gallery of pictures: Pamunkey River - www.pbase.com/garrie_rouse/pamunkey
$25 for Fall of the James Members, $30 for other interested explorers - Minimum of 14 needed and Costs Covers Equipment
We will launch from the “Pocket”, a beautiful alcove adjoining the Pamunkey River, and explore some of our finest examples of freshwater tidal wetland systems on the Atlantic seaboard. These diverse habitats are dominated by wild rice and are home to several rare plant species, including the Mat-Forming Water-Hyssop, Parker’s Pipewort and the Sensitive Joint-Vetch.
A trip on this section of the Pamunkey also provides an excellent opportunity to view waterfowl, including Osprey, Blue Herons, Egrets and Bald Eagles. From here we will take advantage of the high tide cycle to paddle a short distance up the main stem of the Pamunkey River to “Poplar Grove”, an historic site where then Col. George Washington first made the acquaintance of Martha Dandridge Custis (later to become his wife). After exploring a small tidal creek adjacent to Poplar Grove, we will return to our starting point (hopefully on an outgoing tide).
This trip is suitable for novice paddlers. Participants, however, should be reasonably fit and come prepared for moderately strenuous activity. There is no whitewater on this section of river, but some wind and wakes from motorized boats may need to be negotiated. Contact Organizer Shavon Peacock at peacock7@flash.net or at (804) 320-2318. Make checks out to: Fall of the James Sierra Club and send to Shavon at 7669 Rockfalls Dr., Richmond, Va. 23225. Please send your cell number and e-mail address. Signed SC waiver will be required.
Enjoy the Slide Show of the Excursion to the Ancient Bald Cypress-Watertupelo stand can be seen on the FOJ BLOG Archives August 13, 2009.
Southampton, Virginia
Act Now to Protect Wild Gem of the George Washington Forest
Update: 09.01.09
There is over 1600 acres of new logging proposed or approved in this single ranger district as of August 2009.
Marshall Run/Rocky Spur timber sales – (Rockingham Co., North River Ranger District) Two timber sales totalingapproximately 485 acres. Nearly 300 acres are planned inside the 17,152 acre Beech Lick Knob mountain treasure area, part of a large roadless tract that the Forest Service only belatedly recognized as “potential wilderness” last summer. See news articles [Daily News-Record Sept. 28, 2007 article: Marshall Run area - Plan For Timber Brings Memories Flooding Back. Marshall Run Area's Residents Concerned. | Steve Krichbaum's Oct. 25, 2007 Letter-to-the-Editor ]
What you can do: Call or write the district ranger and ask him to protect portions of these two areas within the Beech Lick Knob Virginia mountain treasure area from logging and roadbuilding. Use the information above or, if you are familiar with the area, add a personal note. Contact information for Ranger District: Elwood Burge, District Ranger, 401 Oakwood Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 ph. (540) 432-0187; email: eburge@fs.fed.us, fax: (540) 432-1917
Please contact the Forest Service before Oct. 5th and let them know that you oppose the Marshall Run Timber Sale.
SAMPLE LETTER
District Ranger Elwood Burge
US Mail Address:
North River RD-GWJNFs-R-8-FS-USDA
401 Oakwood Dr. Harrisonburg, Va. 22801
email address: comments-southern-georgewashington-jefferson-northriver@fs.fed.us
fax:(540) 432-1917
The Marshall Run area is beautiful, remote, and scenic, part of a large, 17,000-acre roadless area. For unknown reasons, the Forest Service has not included this area in its official inventory of roadless areas. Instead of cutting timber and creating new roads, the entire area should be kept intact so that, during the upcoming planning process for the George Washington National Forest, it can be added to the roadless inventory and evaluated for other protections.
The public needs more time than 30 days for input and needs information about environmental impacts and alternatives to the proposed timber sale. I request that the agency release a draft Environmental Assessment prior to making a decision about the sale.
The cost of helicopter logging is high and most of these logging operations are not in Virginia. The Forest Service needs to document if and how the logging operation will have a positive economic effect on forest neighbors, as the scoping notice claims.
New system road, temporary road, road improvement, and more open areas will introduce and/or augment the growth of invasive species in the area. The current proposal has no provision for preventing the spread of invasives. No cutting should take place without a responsible, scientifically proven method for preventing the spread of invasive species (such as Japanese stilt grass) after logging. In addition, the Forest Service must ensure that long-term maintenance needs are met for any new roads. The GW/Jefferson National Forests already are unable to properly maintain the existing road system. For example, as of 2003 the forests had a combined road maintenance backlog of over $19 million.”
Please add a personal note, or expand, if you wish.