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WCU - Great Smoky Mountains - A Park for America

Planning in the Smokies

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Planning in the Smokies

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Planning in the Smokies

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  • Forest Forum Planning in the Smokies Editor: As a lifelong admirer of Horace Kephart, and as the current Superintendent of the Park that now embraces much of the mountain land that he roamed and loved so well, I am moved—and disturbed—by George S. Kephart's "Problems in the Smokies" (August 1977). The article is generally accurate in its description of contemporary problems in the Park; and it provides nice insights into Horace Kephart's thoughts of 50 years ago. But it reflects serious gaps in understanding of current circumstances. I'd like to share with your readers something about what has been done in the past two years, and what is planned, for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The traffic jams have been substantially reduced, primarily by improved traffic flow in adjacent towns—from which traffic had previously been backing up into the Park. Even before that relief was achieved, only five percent of our visitors felt more roads or other facilities should be built in the park. Parking along the road shoulders has been sharply curbed, in the interest of safety and resource protection. Recovery of the vegetation has been remarkable, and the roadside appearance substantially improved. Littering is a problem—but still, I doubt that you'll find cleaner roadsides anywhere in the National Park System ( a system justifiably noted for its cleanliness). "Bear jams" are being reduced as a result of improved control over the availability of human food sources, and by prompt removal of beggar bears to remote areas of the Park or State sanctuaries. Major rehabilitation of the Appalachian Trail -is programmed, and we hope to begin work on it in 1978, probably with YACC personnel. A fully centralized backcountry camping reservation system, and increased backcountry patrols, now combine to give us a much better handle on unauthorized camping and on abuse of water resources. Education and enforcement have been stepped up to reduce trash problems (and resultant bear problems) at back- country shelters. Backcountry streams are not known to be any more polluted than before; but the use of any surface water without first treating it is unwise, and we feel obliged to say so to our visitors. Overuse may or may not be tied to plant and animal poaching; but we have no evidence of any direct correlation between their levels. In fact, the presence of campers and hikers is likely to be a deterrent to poaching. The reduction in native trout populations probably is at least as much a result of competition and predation by exotic fish (rainbow and brown trout) as of "the excessive number of fishermen." However, fishing pressure was recognized as a significant factor, so the taking of native (brook) trout has been prohibited throughout the Park, starting last year. We are deeply involved in research aimed at finding some means of acceptable control of the European wild pigs— which are fully as destructive as Mr. Kephart says. Local pig hunters are forcefully opposed to our work on the pigs. There has been serious overuse of some of the Park's 850-plus miles of maintained trails (some of it contributed to annually by AFA-sponsored trail rides). Until last year, when a detailed study of trail conditions was conducted, we had no firm data on which trails were overused, and to what extent. We have those data, now, and will soon be taking steps to assure better distribution of use. Mr. Kephart asks if hikers and campers aren't the Park's greatest immediate threat. In a sense, perhaps they are. But as the last remaining extensive area in the East where real, long-term assurance of sanctuary from the sights, sounds and smells of everyday modern life is truly possible, the greatest share of the Smokies is, and should remain, distin- AMERICAN FORESTS
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Great Smoky Mountains - A Park for America

This digital collection was created to contribute to the public's understanding of the forces and ideas that led to the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934. The most vi...

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