Bluestone

https://www.nps.gov/blue/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluestone_National_Scenic_River The Bluestone National Scenic River protects a 10.5-mile (16.9 km) section of the Bluestone River in Summers and Mercer counties of southern West Virginia. A section of Bluestone NSR is also protected by the West Virginia State Park System within Pipestem Resort State Park. The remaining portion is within a West Virginia Wildlife Management Area. The Bluestone River and the rugged and ancient gorge it has carved is a richly diverse and scenic area of the southern Appalachians. Bluestone National Scenic River is preserved as a living landscape that provides an unspoiled experience for visitors and a haven for a variety of plants and animals. The park protects a 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River in southern West Virginia. Bluestone National Scenic River is most easily accessed via Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park. A narrow, graveled park road provides access to the Bluestone Turnpike Trail at the former Lilly town site at the confluence of the Little Bluestone River. To reach these parks from I-64, take exit 139, then south on Rt. 20. From I-77 take exit 14 to Rt.20 north. Either direction, Bluestone State Park is 15 miles and Pipestem is 22 miles. Sandstone Visitor Center Sandstone Visitor Center is located in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve near Sandstone, WV, and is the primary National Park Service information site for Bluestone National Scenic River. Information can also be obtained at Bluestone State Park and Pipestem State Park, both which border Bluestone National Scenic River. Sandstone Visitor Center is located just north of the I-64 and State Route 20 interchange (Exit 139). GPS coordinates are: 37.78320 N, 80.89778 W Bluestone River Bluestone River Bluestone National Scenic River offers a quiet getaway. Leading a hike Hiking the Turnpike Trail Ranger Richard leads a guided walk on the Turnpike Trail Bluestone Turnpike Trail Ranger giving information to park visitor NPS Ranger Richard Altaire provides an overview of the park map to a visitor to the Bluestone NSR. Enjoying the day Youngster enjoying the Bluestone A young hiker makes his own connection with Bluestone National Scenic River. Bluestone River river with trees The Bluestone River Bluestone River river with trees The Bluestone River National Park Getaway: Bluestone National Scenic River Find quiet solitude and outdoor adventures along one of the most scenic and isolated river gorges in southern West Virginia. Cutting a gorge 1,000 feet deep through the Appalachian Mountains, the lower 10.5 miles of the Bluestone River has created one of the most diverse ecosystems in the southern Appalachians. In 1988 this wild and primitive river gorge was designated as Bluestone National Scenic River. Flat river water surrounded by trees. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Bluestone National Scenic River, West Virginia Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. rock outcrop and trees The Future of Our Oak Forests: Can Fire and Fences Sustain Oak Forests for the Future? Oak-dominated forests are an important resource in the Appalachian Mountains, covering vast areas of the dry ridgetops and mesic hillsides. However, the future of these forests is uncertain due to the lack of regeneration that would form the future oak trees. Person crouched beside a forest health monitoring plot, recording data Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Monitoring Program Yields Insights into Forest Health in Bluestone, Gauley River, and New River Gorge Within the New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River, understanding the current condition of park forests and how the forests are changing is critical to long-term management of park ecosystems. One reason that monitoring forest health is so important—the forests are constantly changing. Storms, pests, pathogens, drought, and new species all play a role in shaping the forest. Forests lining the slopes and ridgetops in New River Gorge 2019 Weather In Review: Bluestone National Scenic River In all, 2019 was very warm and wet with temperatures and precipitation both well above normal. The year ended as the 6th warmest and 35th wettest since 1895. A bend in the Bluestone River as it curves into the distance through some trees. Forest Health in a Regional Context Eight Inventory and Monitoring networks have been collaborating on forest health monitoring since 2005. Participants include 61 national parks in the eastern United States. As a result of this collaboration, vegetation data are collected in similar ways, which allows us to compare various parks across the region. One person on the forest floor collecting data, while another records the data So Many Mushrooms! It started as a personal project. Biological technician Sarah Daugherty would be out collecting data for the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network’s forest health monitoring program, and notice so many cool mushrooms. She started taking photos and jotting down what she saw. Soon, she noticed that many of the species she was finding weren't on park species lists. Discussing her discoveries with her colleagues, everyone agreed that a more formal fungi inventory was in order. Mushrooms of different colors, shapes, and sizes, laid out next to each other on a floor Silent Witnesses, Old Trees are Hiding in Our Midst An article about old trees in Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) parks. ERMN scientists have collected cores from two "average" looking canopy trees adjacent to every permanent long-term forest health monitoring plot in network parks. Of the 700 trees cored, over 60 of them hovered near 200 years old. A woman uses an increment borer to take a core sample from a tree. 2020 Weather In Review: Bluestone National Scenic River In total, the year 2020 was warm and extremely wet at Bluestone National Scenic River. The year ended as the 18th warmest and 3rd wettest on record. Trees silhouetted by a sunset. All Hope is Not Lost – Parks plan strategically to treat invasive plants Managing invasive plant species can seem like an endless and insurmountable challenge, but parks are using a new strategic collaborative tool to protect their most valuable resources. Four photos show invasive plants spreading over an area during 12 years Triaging Invasive Plants: Strategic Planning Drives Success A winning strategy to combat invasive plants becomes a potent tool for restoring special places in several eastern parks. Rachel Vincent removes invasive knotweed from a historic stone wall 2021 Weather In Review: Bluestone National Scenic River In total, the year 2021 was warm and moderately dry at Bluestone National Scenic River. The year ended as the 24th warmest and 51st driest on record. Little Bluestone River and fall foliage Resilient Forests Initiative - Managing Invasive Plants & Pests Park forests are threatened by invasive plants and pests. Strategically tackling invasive plants to protect park’s highest priority natural resources and planning around forest pests and pathogens are important actions in managing resilient forests. Forest Regeneration I&M Networks Support Resilient Forest Management NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks have been tracking forest health in eastern national parks since 2006. This monitoring information can guide resilient forest management and support parks in adapting to changing conditions through the actions described below. Forest health monitoring Series: Managing Resilient Forests Initiative for Eastern National Parks Forests in the northeastern U.S. are in peril. Over-abundant deer, invasive plants, and insect pests are negatively impacting park forests, threatening to degrade the scenic vistas and forested landscapes that parks are renowned for. With regional collaboration, parks can manage these impacts and help forests be resilient. This article series explores tools available to park managers to achieve their goals. Healthy forests have many native seedlings and saplings. Streamside Bird Monitoring in Bluestone National Scenic River Streamside bird monitoring at Bluestone National Scenic River 2009-2019 indicates that 81% of bird species that breed in the park during the summer have stable or increasing populations. A small pale-breasted bird perched on a limb. Managing Resilient Forests. A Regional Initiative Forests cover tens of thousands of acres in eastern national parks and these critical resources face a range of interacting stressors: over-abundant white-tailed deer populations, invasive plant dominance, novel pests and pathogens, among other threats. The Resilient Forests Initiative will help parks address these issue collectively. Forest health monitoring 2022 Weather in Review: Bluestone National Scenic River The average annual temperature for 2022 at Bluestone National Scenic River was close to normal, but the year was much wetter than is typical for Mercer and Summers counties, WV. In all, the year ended as the 50th warmest and 23rd wettest on record. Child looking at reflection in a river NPS Resilient Forest Initiative Restores Forest Ecosystems in Appalachian National Parks In Appalachia, forests are crucial to the health of ecosystems and local communities in and around National Parks. However, forest health monitoring in eastern National Parks has shown that park forests are rapidly changing, and don’t have enough tree regeneration to replace canopy trees as they fall or die. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds are being used to support the Resilient Forest Initiative in the restoration efforts within these parks. Two NPS workers in a forest. Project Profile: Manage Forest Invasive Species in Appalachia The National Park Service will enhance forest resilience on more than 2,000 acres across eight parks in Appalachia, with benefits to local economies and watershed health. Forests in Pennsylvania and West Virginia national parks are experiencing regeneration failure as indicated by inadequate saplings and low numbers of seedlings. a man uses a hand lens to monitor a seedling up close Project Profile: Restore Healthy Forest Ecosystems in Appalachia The National Park Service will enhance forest resilience on more than 2,000 acres across eight parks in Appalachia, with benefits to local economies, watershed health, and visitors. two people, one in national park service uniform examine the forest floor of a deciduous forest 2023 Weather in Review: Bluestone National Scenic River The year 2023 was very warm and quite dry at Bluestone National Scenic River. In all, the year ended as the 9th warmest and 37th driest on record (since 1895). A shallow river surrounded by trees and a blue sky. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service 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.