Obed

https://www.nps.gov/obed/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obed_River Obed River is a stream draining a part of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. It, and particularly its tributaries, are important streams for whitewater enthusiasts. The Obed River rises in Cumberland County, Tennessee, just south of Crossville. It is bridged by U.S. Highway 70 between downtown Crossville and the municipal airport, and meets its confluence with the Little Obed River near a bridge on U.S. Highway 70N and an abandoned railroad bridge which was formerly part of the rail system linking Nashville and Knoxville. Shortly thereafter, it is bridged by U.S. Highway 127 and Interstate 40. The National Park Service maintains a visitor center located at 208 North Maiden Street in Wartburg. They also maintain the Rock Creek Campground and the Nemo Picnic Area. The Obed Wild and Scenic River looks much the same today as it did when the first white settlers strolled its banks in the late 1700s. While meagerly populated due to poor farming soil, the river was a hospitable fishing and hunting area for trappers and pioneers. Today, the Obed stretches along the Cumberland Plateau and offers visitors a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. The Obed Wild & Scenic River Visitor Center is located at 208 North Maiden Street in downtown Wartburg, Tennessee. Please use the link for more information. Obed Visitor Center The visitor center has free WiFi, and offers exhibits on the river, its inhabitants, the cultural history of the area, and the recreational opportunities that the park provides. The visitor center also offers an award-winning orientation film. A small bookstore is also included in the visitor center, which is open daily from 9:00-5:00 pm (ET), daily. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Address: 208 North Maiden Street Wartburg, Tennessee, 37887 The Obed Wild & Scenic River Visitor Center is located at 208 North Maiden Street in downtown Wartburg, Tennessee. Please use the link for more information on directions. Rock Creek Campground The Rock Creek Campground, located adjacent to the Nemo area of the Obed Wild & Scenic River, offers 11 spots for campers. Physical Address: 1674 Catoosa Rd., Wartburg, TN 37887 A $15 per night fee is charged, and reservations are required. You may obtain your reservation by visiting www.recreation.gov and searching for "Rock Creek Campground - TN". Reservations are site-specific. The campground has grills and primitive toilet facilities, but no running water. Walk-in, tent-only site 15.00 The campground has grills and primitive toilet facilities, but no running water. Tent camping at Rock Creek Campground tent site Tent camping is popular at Obed WSR. Obed WSR in Fall Obed in Fall Obed in Fall Nemo at Night A star-filled night sky above the silhouette of a truss-bridge A Star-Filled Night Sky above the Historic Nemo Bridge Listening to the Eclipse: National Park Service scientists join Smithsonian, NASA in nationwide project A solar eclipse is visually stunning, but what will it sound like? NPS scientists will find out by recording sounds in parks across the USA. An NPS scientist installs audio recording equipment in a lush valley at Valles Caldera NP. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. stream and rocky shoreline Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Pennsylvanian Period—323.2 to 298.9 MYA Rocks in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park represent vast Pennsylvanian-age swamps. Plant life in those swamps later became coal found in the eastern United States. fossil tracks on sandstone slab Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Obed Wild & Scenic River Partners with the National Park Foundation to Offer Monthly "Let's Go Fishing" Program Obed WSR partners with the National Parks Foundation to offer monthly Junior Ranger "Let's Go Fishing" Programs. A young boy holds a fishing rod while standing on the edge of a murky river. Women in Fire Science: Alicia Schlarb Alicia Schlarb is the lead fire effects monitor for a portion of the National Park Service's Southeast Region. She and her crew provide prescribed burning, monitoring, and wildland fire responses to national parks located within Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and portions of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. She loves fire and that she can change perceptions about wildland fire through science. Alicia Schlarb. National Park Getaway: Obed Wild and Scenic River Nestled in the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Tennessee, the Obed Wild and Scenic River is a recreational enthusiast's paradise—a place where the great outdoors meets the expectations of the explorer in all of us. Metal frame bridge over a river with trees Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Project Profile: Control Invasive Plants in Appalachia The National Park Service will hire a biological technician and two interns to assist the Southeast Region Invasive Plant Management Team (SE IPMT) in coordinating Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) efforts, provide training to parks, and work with parks to complete additional treatments to manage invasive plants. a person with a weed sprayed backpack stands next to vegetation Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 16, No. 1, Spring 2024 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo of a mountain hillside with flowers. A Georgia State University and National Park Service Collaboration: Fossil Fact Sheets in the Southeast Region A partnership between Georgia State University and the NPS Paleontology Program has enabled more focused paleontological resource support in parks in the Southeast Region of the U.S. During the past several years students mentored by Dr. Christy Visaggi have helped to complete paleontological resource inventories in several parks in the southeast region uncovering the fossil records of these parks. Photo of 3 people standing in front of a poster display. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Guide to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southeast Region Collection This finding aid describes the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) Southest Region Collection, part of the NPS History Collection. Project Profile: A Strategic Approach to Building Forest Resiliency in Southeast Parks The National Park Service is addressing the climate change vulnerability of southeast park ecosystems. Fall-colored trees on a mountain slope. A tree is in the right-side foreground. Mussel-Building with the Appalachian Highlands Network: Science and Snorkeling to Protect Imperiled Freshwater Mussels Freshwater mussels are ecosystem powerhouses, but they're also in serious danger. Working alongside park management and other partners, staff from the Appalachian Highlands Network are fighting to protect the diverse assemblage of these underappreciated animals at Big South Fork NRRA and Obed WSR. Two hands hold a collection of about 30 small green and tan mussels, some tagged with glitter. Visit Parks with Dark Night Skies Parks are home to some of the last remaining harbors of starlit skies—some practically untouched by light pollution. Stay up late and discover the night on any visit to a park! Or check out this list of ten favorite places to stargaze. a calm lake and silhouettes of trees with the milky way in the sky above

O b e d W i l d a n d Scenic R i v e r Tennessee N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t e r i o r Tennessee Wildlife Resources A g e n c y Wild and scenic are good words to describe the Obed river system. The Obed Wild and Scenic River consists of sections of four streams: Daddys Creek, Clear Creek, Emory River, and the Obed River. These streams have been running their course for thousands of years, cutting into the sandstone of the Cumberland Plateau and creating a rugged landscape of wild land and water found in relatively few places in the eastern United States. The Obed and its tributaries have carved spectacular gorges with 400-foot cliffs above the streams. Huge sandstone boulders, once part of the cliffs above, now dot the streams, creating large Whitewater rapids in the rushing water. The American Indians who first visited this area may have used the bluffs as shelter during extended hunting trips. They found abundant game here, but the soil was poor and permanent set- tlements were not built. The "Longhunters"—white men who hunted for animal skins and furs—came next to the region. They found the same rich hunting grounds as the Indians, but the pioneers and settlers in the Cumberland Plateau found the land in the river and stream canyons inhospitable, difficult to farm, and too far from the centers of commerce. The mainstream of human settlement flowed around and beyond the plateau to the rich farmlands to the west. The result is an undeveloped natural area sculpted by unceasing erosion over millennia. The Obed river system contains a mixed forest of oak, hickory, poplar, pine, and hemlock. Shrubs such as mountain laurel and rhododendron also are common. During the spring, colorful wildflowers can be found on the forest floor and along the streams. A variety of wildlife can be found seasonally in the stream gorges, including more than 100 species of birds. Along the banks of the streams you may spot signs of bobcat, beaver, raccoon, mink, deer, or a playful river otter. Lilly Bluff Overlook provides a great view of part of the rugged Obed Wild and Scenic River. Access to much of the Obed Wild and Scenic River is limited. A few bridges offer access to the streams for kayakers and canoeists interested in demanding Whitewater boating. (The Obed system offers some of the most challenging Whitewater in the Southeast, requiring serious Whitewater skills and experience. It is not recommended for beginning or novice Whitewater boaters.) Fishermen also use the streams, going after smallmouth bass, bluegill, catfish, or the muskellunge (better known locally as the "Jack fish"). For those who are not backcountry oriented, a short walk from your motor vehicle to the The Obed Wild and Scenic River was added to the National Park System in October 1976. The National Park Service and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) have joined forces to protect and manage this unique area. Through a cooperative agreement, lands within the Obed Wild and Scenic River that are part of the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area will continue to be owned and managed by TWRA. The goal is to preserve the river in a free-flowing condition and to preserve and protect the water quality, the wildlife resources, and the primitive character of the area for present and future generations. In this way, visitors today and in the future can experience and appreciate this part of wild America. Mistflower is one of many wildflowers native to the countryside. The ice, snow, and clear, cold water make a magical winter scene, a A Variety of Outdoor Pleasures At any moment this fisherman's repose may be interrupted by a fish taking the bait. The park's streams have many beautiful surprises, among them this waterfall. A climber finesses his way up a sheer sandstone bluff. James Thurston Picnics, one of summertime's joys, are made even more pleasant by good food and good company. NPS NPS reminder that all seasons have something to offer. Russ Manning NPS American Canoe Association 7432 A l b a n Station Blvd., Suite 232 Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-0141 www.acanet.org Things to Do Paddling Canoeing and kayaking b r i n g many people t o t h e O b e d . This is one o f t h e best and most difficult w h i t e w a t e r regions in t h e eastern U n i t e d States. Civilization seems a long w a y o f f here. It is o n e of t h e f e w remaining places in t h e country w h e r e waters run free a n d w h e r e t h e r e has been little or no change in t h e natural sequence o f events; t h a t is one o f t h e reasons t h e area was chosen t o be a w i l d and scenic river. Because t h e Obed is r o u g h country, any activity must be pursued carefully and in h a r m o n y w i t h t h e land. The cold rainy season b e t w e e n December and A p r i l is usually t h e only t i m e t h e rivers are f u l l e n o u g h f o r p a d d l i n g trips. A t t h a t t i m e , t h e streams can have nearl