Report From The Field #3

Between compiling Community Wildfire Protection Plans for fire districts in four more counties, chatting with fire chiefs, and making many more maps, the CWPP team inspected and revitalized a short stretch of the beleaguered wilds surrounding Asheville, North Carolina this month.

Just two weeks ago the team visited the South East Exotic Plant Management Team in Asheville, where they spent a day in the life of the hard-working exotic plant management team. Along a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway, they learned how to identify exotic plants, cut them down, and spray their stalks with herbicide. It was hard work for these desk jockeys. The work was made easier by the helpful advice and general awesomeness of Calicoe, Anna, Christina, and Paul.

After removing an enormous number of exotic plants and having a great time with the Asheville crew, the CWPP team hit the trail for a backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They all enjoyed the opportunity to think about conservation in the beautiful mountainous setting.

Their mountain getaway quickly ended, however, and the CWPP team has since returned to their usual schedule. This regular daily routine consists of driving out to a fire district and meeting with its county ranger and fire chief for a few hours in the morning, and then visiting all areas of concern in the district (and sometimes a local lunch spot) before returning to their home-office and grinding the raw data down into useful maps and reports for future emergency planners. Perhaps you are curious about what these maps look like? Wonder no more! A map is posted below just for you.

The CWPP team hopes to see the Asheville crew again soon!