The Species Study Group of the Middle Atlantic Chapter ARS has undertaken a new project to help restore the ecologically diverse and important Hooper Bald.  This North Carolina mountaintop wilderness area is south of the Great Smoky Mountains area near the Tennessee border in the Nantahala National Forest, just off the scenic Cherohala Skyway.

Like many of the open balds in the Southern Appalachians, Hooper Bald is getting overgrown.  Rather than staying an open meadow, the area is filling up with successional trees and shrubs which crowd out the native meadow wildflower, azalea and rhododendron populations.  Without intervention the top of the mountain will no longer be an open meadow bald, but will become pine and hardwood forestland.  This invasive regression is threatening many native wildflowers, and especially the exceptional forms of the Flame Azalea (R. calendulaceum) on which have been identified on Hooper Bald. One of those exceptional plants has been informally named “Hooper’s Copper” and is a bright coppery orange Flame Azalea that has some of the largest flowers we have seen on this species with blossoms of more than 3” across.

In November 2008, the Species Study Group began discussions about this project with the Forest Service Officials in the region.  Working in coordination with the National Forest administration, a restoration clean-up of the Bald was scheduled for the weekend of April 3 - 5, 2009.  It was a huge success and another clean-up of the Bald is scheduled for the weekend of April 9-11, 2010. We are looking for volunteers to participate in this  preservation of the important plant communities of Hooper Bald.  This restoration is similar to the ones currently in progress in the Roan Highlands and on Gregory Bald.  The National Forest Service has approved the plan and will be assisting us in cutting of invasive trees and shrubs, and bush hogging to open up the Bald.  Many volunteers from the Middle Atlantic Chapter and others interested in the project are needed to help with the chipping of the cut trees, cleaning up around the identified azaleas and pruning other vegetation.

A real advantage to this project on Hooper Bald is the relatively easy access.  Using any of the several motels in Robbinsville, NC as our base, only a short drive is needed to get to the scenic Cherohala Skyway.  From the Skyway entrance to the parking area at Hooper Bald is not far, a little less than 12 miles.  After parking, we have just a short walk of about a quarter mile along a gravel path to get from the parking area to the Bald.  (There are even restroom facilities - not typical conditions for most wilderness areas.)

If any of your group members would like to join with members of the Middle Atlantic chapter ARS for this fun and productive weekend of restoring a natural area containing many interesting plants, we would love to have you join with us in this project.   For more information or to sign up for the project, please contact Jim Brant, MAC President, by phone: 804 693-7556 or by e-mail: jandpbrant@verizon.net.

Thanks,

Jim Brant, President
Middle Atlantic Chapter
American Rhododendron Society