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Trail and the Bartram Trail merge along tine ridge, so
those eager to experience the Appalachian Trail can
do so with no extra planning.
Nantahala Lake is breathtaking when first spotted
through the dense trees on the ridge, but soon
becomes clearer as the trail makes its descent
towards the lake. This section is roughly twenty
miles long, but demanding up and downhill will make
it feel like more than that!
Carry plenty of water because we crossed only
one tiny stream in three days of hiking, and water
becomes precious when hiking in the mountains.
The Bartram Trail offers hikers and backpackers
something a little different. The vistas across the
Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains were
unparalleled in scope and beauty. The trail was
traveled little, but still well marked with yellow
rectangle blazes. Although somewhat overgrown in
parts, it was easy to follow.
Experienced hikers should feel comfortable in
undertaking large sections at a time, while novices
can enjoy day hikes to the overlooks.
sediment to the water and can affect water quality.
Sediment is the number one pollutant of rivers in
North Carolina because increased levels can
smother organisms, making it hard for them to get
proper oxygen. In addition, high levels of sediment
can cloud water and inhibit certain organisms from
finding food.
In the case of King’s Creek, vegetation is limited
to certain areas along streamside. Most of the
creek is surrounded by grass which serves as only
a mediocre buffer. A means to improve this
situation would be to plant a riparian zone
composed of many small trees and shrubs lining
the stream’s edge. This would improve water
quality, reduce sediment and erosion, and help
keep stream temperatures cool.
Marco invertebrates also provide a good
indication of healthy streams since these
organisms measure all the elements of the stream.
Mayflies, stoneflies, and cadisflies are highly
sensitive to pollution and will not survive in
unhealthy conditions. In addition to providing food
for fish and birds, these less tolerate organisms are
a great indicator of stream wellness and help
provide an overall picture of whether the stream is
healthy.
Another way to determine the overall health of a
stream is to observe its shape. Meanders are
considered a healthy and important part of streams
because they provide habitat for organisms and
distribute water flow equally. According to Dr.
Kenneth Duke, coordinator of Environmental
Studies here at Brevard College, King’s Creek was
artificially straightened sometime during the
Depression period because it was assumed that
the stream’s natural path would interfere with the
Jones Dormitory structure. This has caused major
problems downstream where increased water flow
from the artificial straightening has intensified
erosion and caused complications for residents
living near the creek.
The most recent student analysis by the ENG
217 class has considered the creek to be in good to
moderate health. While the creek does have some
good indicators of a healthy stream, amplified
erosion, unnatural straightening, increased runoff
11/24/2003 http;//w\vw.brevard.edu/clarion/environment.asp