| George Washington and Jefferson National Forests | |
| U.S. National Forests | |
 White Rocks on Little Sluice Mountain in George Washington National Forest.
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| Country |  United States |
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| States |  Kentucky,  Virginia,  West Virginia |
| Ranger Districts | Clinch, Eastern Divide, Glenwood Pedlar, James River, Lee, Mount Rogers, North River, Warm Springs |
| Coordinates | 38°30′0″N 79°0′0″W / 38.5°N 79°W |
| Highest point | Mount Rogers |
| - location | Grayson and Smyth Counties, VA |
| - elevation | 5,729 ft (1,746.2 m) |
| - coordinates | 36°39′35″N 81°3′41″W / 36.65972°N 81.06139°W |
| Lowest point | South Fork Shenandoah River |
| - location | southwest of Front Royal, VA |
| - elevation | 513 ft (156.4 m) |
| - coordinates | 38°52′31″N 78°18′34″W / 38.87528°N 78.30944°W |
| Area | 1,788,739 acres (723,877 ha) |
| Established | 1995 [1] |
| - George Washington NF | 1918-05-16 [2] |
| - Jefferson NF | 1936-04-21 [2] |
| Owner | US Forest Service |
| IUCN category | VI - Managed Resource Protected Area |
| Headquarters | Roanoke, Virginia |
 Location of George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
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| Wikimedia Commons: George Washington and Jefferson National Forests | |
| Website: George Washington and Jefferson National Forests | |
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are U.S. National Forests that combine to form one of the largest areas of public land in the Eastern United States. They cover 1.8 million acres (7,300 km²) of land in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Approximately one million acres (4,000 km²) of the forest are remote and undeveloped and 139,461 acres (564.38 km²)[3] have been designated as wilderness areas, which eliminates future development.
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[edit] History
George Washington National Forest was established on May 16, 1918 as the Shenandoah National Forest. The forest was renamed after the first President on June 28, 1932. Natural Bridge National Forest was added on July 22, 1933.[2]
Jefferson National Forest was formed on April 21, 1936 by combining portions of the Unanka and George Washington National Forests with other land.[2] In 1995, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests were administratively combined.[1] The border between the two forests roughly follows the James River. The combined forest is administered from its headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia.[1]
[edit] Notable features
- The northern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway which is separately administered by the National Park Service runs through the Forest.
- Over 2,000 miles (3,000 km) of hiking trails go through the forest.
- Virginia's highest point, Mount Rogers, is located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area that is part of the forest. Other notable mountains include Elliott Knob which has one of the last remaining fire lookout towers in the eastern U.S. and Whitetop Mountain.
- About 230,000 acres (930 km2) of old-growth forests.
[edit] Flora and fauna
The Forests' vast and mountainous terrain harbors a great variety of plant life - over 50 species of trees and over 2,000 species of shrubs and herbaceous plants. [4]
Dry-mesic oak forests are the most abundant forest type.[5][6] These forests are widespread in the southeastern United States and occur on dry, upland sites on southern and western aspects and ridgetops. The composition of these forests varies throughout their range but often includes chestnut oak, northern red oak, eastern black oak, white oak, and scarlet oak. Conifers sometimes found among the oaks are shortleaf pine, eastern white pine, and table mountain pine.[7]
Dry and dry-mesic oak-pine forests occur on droughty, coarse-textured soils on ridges and south-facing slopes. Oak and pine species are easily found, with white oak, scarlet oak, chestnut oak, shortleaf pine, pitch pine the most common. Flowering dogwood, sourwood, sassafras, and blackgum live in the midstory and blueberry, huckleberry, and mountain laurel fill the understory.[7]
Xeric pine and pine-oak forests and woodland grow on dry, acidic soils on steep slopes, rock outcrops, or south-facing aspects. Typical trees are pitch pine, Virginia pine, shortleaf pine, eastern white pine, table mountain pine, and chestnut oak.[7]
Dry and xeric oak forest, woodland, and savanna occur on very dry and infertile uplands as well as steep, southern aspects and rocky outcrops. They include black oak, post oak, blackjack oak, chestnut oak, scarlet oak, and white oak.[7]
Mixed mesophytic forests occur in coves and on low north- and east-facing slopes and are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the country. Typical trees of these forests are sugar maple, American beech, eastern hemlock, silverbell, yellow poplar, red maple, white oak, northern red oak, yellow birch, yellow buckeye, and basswood. Oaks gain numbers on drier sites.[7]
Northern hardwood forests occur in cool, mesic habitats found on high north- and east-facing slopes. Sugar maple, beech, and yellow birch dominate but are sometimes joined by the conifers eastern hemlock, eastern white pine, and red spruce.[7]
Uncommon but significant are montane and allied spruce and spruce-fir forests. These occur only on the highest peaks and ridges, where the soils are poor, the growing season short, and moisture comes from rain, snow, and fog. Red spruce, Fraser fir, yellow birch, mountain ash, and mountain maple identify these forests, while hobblebush and bearberry occur in the understory.[7]
The Forests contain some 230,000 acres (930 km2) of old growth forests, in which all of these forest types are represented.[5][6] Locations of old growth include Peters Mountain, Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, Rich Hole Wilderness, Flannery Ridge, Pick Breeches Ridge, and Laurel Fork Gorge, Pickem Mountain, and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.[8] The Ramsey's Draft and Kimberling Creek Wildernesses in particular are mostly old-growth.[8][9][10]
The black bear is relatively common, enough so that there is a short hunting season to prevent overpopulation. White-tailed deer, bobcat, bald eagles, weasel, otter, and marten are also known to inhabit the forest.
[edit] Activities
The forests are popular hiking, mountain biking, and hunting destinations. The Appalachian Trail extends for 330 miles (530 km) from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park through the forest and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The forest is within a two hour drive to over 10 million people and receives heavy visitation, especially in the region closest to Shenandoah National Park.
The George Washington National Forest is a popular destination for trail runners. It is the location for several Ultramarathons, including the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 miler, the Old Dominion 100 miler, and the Old Dominion Memorial 100 miler[11].
The George Washington Forest is also the home to Nature Camp, a science-oriented summer camp for youth. The camp is located on national forest land near the town of Vesuvius.
[edit] Counties
Counties are listed in descending order of forestland area within county. Note that Jefferson National Forest is located in 22 separate counties, more than any other National Forest except Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri, which lies in 29 counties. Note also that Botetourt, Monroe, and Rockbridge counties, at the dividing line between the two forests, include parts of both forests. Thirdly, note that the state of Kentucky actually has very little acreage, with its two counties bringing up the tail end of Jefferson National Forest. As of September 30, 2007 George Washington National Forest has a total area of 1,065,389 acres (1,664.7 sq mi, or 4,311.5 km²). There are local ranger district offices located in Bridgewater, Covington, Edinburg, Hot Springs, and Staunton. Jefferson National Forest has a total area of 723,350 acres (1,130.2 sq mi, or 2,927.3 km²). [1] There are local ranger district offices located in Blacksburg, Marion, Natural Bridge, New Castle, and Wise.
[edit] Wilderness areas
There are 139,461 acres (564.38 km²)[12] of federally designated wilderness areas in the two forests under the United States National Wilderness Preservation System. All are in the state of Virginia, except as indicated. The largest of these is the Mountain Lake Wilderness, at 16,511 acres (66.82 km²). There are 17 wildernesses in Jefferson National Forest, second only to Tongass National Forest, which has 19. However, most are relatively tiny when compared to the giant wildernesses in the Alaska national forest.
[edit] George Washington National Forest |
[edit] Jefferson National Forest
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[edit] See also
- Great North Mountain
- Massanutten Mountain
- Shenandoah Mountain
- Monongahela National Forest –- adjoining forest in West Virginia
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Forest Facts". George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Archived from the original on 2009-01-18. http://www.webcitation.org/5duLGPQUq. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ a b c d Davis, Richard C. (2005-09-29). "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). The Forest History Society. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. http://www.webcitation.org/5duNfdCjg. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ Wilderness.net search page
- ^ "George Washington & Jefferson National Forest Trees & Shrubs". George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Archived from the original on 2009-01-17. http://www.webcitation.org/5duOObfTc. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ a b George Washington National Forest 1993 Revised Forest Plan. United States Forest Service. 1993. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/index.shtml.
- ^ a b Jefferson National Forest 2004 Revised Forest Plan. United States Forest Service. 2004. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/index.shtml.
- ^ a b c d e f g Guidance for conserving and restoring old-growth forest communities on national forests in the Southern Region. United States Forest Service, Southern Region. 1997. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/planning/R8%20Old%20Growth%20Report.pdf.
- ^ a b Mary Byrd Davis (23 January 2008). "Old Growth in the East: A Survey. Virginia". http://www.primalnature.org/ogeast/va.pdf.
- ^ Jefferson National Forest South Half. Old Growth Inventory Map.. United States Forest Service, Southern Region. 1997. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/maps/og_s.pdf.
- ^ Jefferson National Forest South Half. Wilderness, Roadless, and Wild & Scenic Rivers Map.. United States Forest Service, Southern Region. 1997. http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/forestplan/maps/wrw_s.pdf.
- ^ Run100s ("Run Hundreds") - A Not-For-Profit UltraRunning Corporation
- ^ Wilderness.net search page
- Hall, William L. (July 1914). "To Remake The Appalachians: A New Order In The Mountains That is Founded On Forestry -- What The Government's Appalachian Forests Mean To The People In The Mountains And To The Millions Who Want Recreation". The World's Work: A History of Our Time XLIV (2): 321–338. http://books.google.com/books?id=zegeQtMn9JsC&pg=PA321. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
- Prehistoric Southwest Virginia: Aboriginal Occupation, Land Use, and Environmental Worldview, Smithfield Review 5 (April 2000): 125-151.
- Turnpike Tourism in Western Virginia, Virginia Cavalcade 48:1 (Winter 1998): 14-23.
- The Potts Valley Branch Railroad and Tri-State Incline Lumber Operation in West Virginia and Virginia, 1892-1932, West Virginia History 54 (1995): 42-58.
- The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the Rise of Public Involvement in Forest Service Planning, Environmental History Review 28 (Summer 1994): 41-65.
- An Appalachian Forest: Creation of the Jefferson National Forest and its effects on the local community, Forest and Conservation History 37:4 (October 1993): 169-178.
- The Great Anti-Fire Campaign, American Forests, 99:5&6 (May/June 1993): 33-35, 58.
- Green Cove Station: An Appalachian train depot and its community, Virginia Cavalcade, 42:2 (Autumn 1992): 52-61.
- Fisheries and Wildlife Management: part of the history of the Jefferson National Forest, Virginia Forests, 48:2 (Summer 1992): 6-8.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: George Washington and Jefferson National Forests |
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