The Rivers & Trails Journal

DRBA Tenth Year Celebration March 3 in Danville

2012-02-08T11:19:00.008-05:00

Come and celebrate the Dan River Basin Association's Tenth Anniversary!

DRBA's Annual Celebration honoring its first decade will begin at 9:30am on Saturday, March 3, in the Pepsi Building at The Crossing, 661 Craghead Street, Danville, VA (GPS 36.584404,-79.385639). The public is invited free of charge.

The day's activities will include all the major elements of DRBA's mission- preserving and promoting the region's rivers and culture through education, recreation and stewardship. In addition, a look back over DRBA's many successes during its first ten years will provide inspiration for the coming years' efforts in the mult-county, bi-state river basin.

After a half hour to enjoy refreshments and view displays, the short business session will include recognition of exceptional volunteer service, election of board members, and staff reports on the Association's extensive activities in Virginia and North Carolina during the past year, as well as a glimpse of the year ahead.

Featured as the Celebration's speaker is one of DRBA's founding members, Dr. Lindley S. Butler of Wentworth. As a senior North Carolina historian and author of numerous books and articles on local, state, and regional history, Butler is uniquely qualified to present a program on his topic- Dan River Basin Association: Past, Present, and Future.

Encompassing portions of sixteen counties in Virginia and North Carolina in its 3300 square mile watershed, the Dan River Basin includes six rivers- the Mayo, Smith, Sandy, Banister, Hyco, and of course, the Dan. The Dan River Basin Association was formed in 2002 to preserve and promote the region's abundant natural and cultural resources.

Recognizing that this beautiful area, extending from the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the broad waters of Kerr (Buggs Island) Lake, shares a history of reliance on the rivers for transportation, commerce, and industry, DRBA provides a unified vision of cooperation across geographic boundaries.

Butler has provided leadership for DRBA, serving as a founding board member and officer. He spearheaded efforts that ensured the establishment of the Mayo River State Park in North Carolina and the Gravely Nature Preserve in Virginia. In addition, his work on the historic batteau navigation structures in the Dan River earned the placement of many of these structures on the National Register of Historic Places.

Members and guests will hear reports from the Association's staff, including Executive Director Tiffany Haworth and program managers and coordinators from DRBA's four offices- Collinsville, Virginia and Danbury, Yanceyville, and Eden, North Carolina.

Following the meeting and lunch provided by each participant, around 1:15pm DRBA members and guests will join Danville Parks, Recreation & Tourism's Outdoor Director Karen Cross on a hike on Danville's Riverwalk. This eight-mile paved trail is a model for trails in the region. Learn more at http://www.danvilletrails.com/.

Participants in the Celebration are asked to bring a picnic lunch to be eaten at the Pepsi Building, or plan to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant of their choosing. Those joining in the after-lunch hike should wear hiking boots or walking shoes and dress in layers.

Directions: To reach the Pepsi Building, from 58 Business in downtown Danville, take Main Street south across the Dan River and turn left at the first traffic light onto Craghead Street. Follow that for about 5 blocks until you see the sign for The Crossing at the Dan. The Pepsi Building is on the left beside the parking lot.

From the Danville Expressway, US 29/US 58, turn north onto Goodyear Blvd (State Route 737). Stay on Goodyear until it ends at Industrial Avenue. Turn right onto Industrial, which will become Craghead Street. Follow Craghead until you see the sign for The Crossing at the Dan. The Pepsi Building is on the right beside the parking lot.

Meetings and outings of the Dan River Basin Association are free and open to the public. For information about the Celebration or the hike, contact T Butler, members@danriver.org or (336) 349-5727.

Membership information is avaible as members@danriver.org.

DRBA - February 4 First Saturday Outing

2012-01-10T09:28:00.015-05:00

Dan River Basin Association to Hike at Fairy Stone State Park February 4
Continuing DRBA’s Tenth Year Celebration

The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) will continue its Tenth Year Celebration with a February 4 hike on trails in Virginia’s Fairy Stone State Park. Participants will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Stuart’s Knob Trailhead on Union Bridge Road (Virginia State Route 623) on the north side of Fairy Stone Lake (GPS 36.798504,-80.116784).

The two-mile hike will begin with the Iron Mine Trail, which winds along high and steep ridges through areas of rhododendron and stands of beech, pine, hickory, poplar, maple, and sycamore trees. The trail’s namesake feature is the mouth of an old iron mine, its dark opening covered by a barred grate. Remnants of iron ore may be visible alongside the trail.

The path will then connect to the Upper and Lower Stuart’s Knob loops. After a few climbs and declines and a fine vista of a portion of Fairy Stone Lake, hikers will return to the parking area.
The park’s brochure rates the hike as strenuous, but Trip Coordinator Lucas Conkle, chair of DRBA’s Outings Task Force, considers the trails moderate. Switchbacks make it easier to climb the slopes, and Conkle plans to set a gentle pace to allow participants to enjoy the forest, the historic sites, and the views.

“The Stuart Knob Trail system has a nice mix of views and history,” Conkle says. “It is sure to become one of your favorite hikes if you go on the trip.”

Fairy Stone State Park, founded in 1936 as the largest of Virginia’s first six state parks, is named for the cross-shaped staurolite, a rare mineral found in the region. Legend says this area was once home to fairies and other woodland creatures. Word of Jesus’ crucifixion so saddened these fairies that they wept tears which crystallized staurolite (silica, iron and aluminum) in the form of Maltese, Roman and St. Andrews crosses.

At the conclusion of the hike, participants will eat their picnic lunches near the shore of the168-acre Fairy Stone Lake. The waters of the Smith River, delayed by the dam that forms the lake, eventually slip over the Fairy Stone spillway into Philpott Lake.

The 4,537 acre state park, still one of Virginia’s largest, offers a total of 14 miles on several hiking trails. Conkle recommends that anyone who wants to hike after lunch consider taking the 1.5-mile Whiskey Run Trail around the base of Stuart’s Knob on their own.

Participants are asked to bring lunch, water and a hiking stick; wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots; dress in layers of water-shedding artificial fabric or wool; and be prepared for rain or wind. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver form.

Directions: From US 220 at Bassett Forks, VA, turn west onto Hwy 57 (Fairystone Park Highway). Drive 12 ½ miles. Turn right onto Fairystone Lake Drive. Drive ½ mile, and turn left onto Fairystone Farm Lane. Continue onto Union Bridge Road. The destination will be 0.8 miles on the left.
From US 58 at Stuart, VA, turn north on Hwy 8. Drive 4 miles, then turn east onto Hwy 57 (Fairystone Park Highway). Drive 8 miles. Turn left onto Fairystone Lake Drive. Drive ½ mile, and turn left onto Fairystone Farm Lane. Continue onto Union Bridge Road. The destination will be 0.8 miles on the left.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For more information, contact Trip Coordinator Lucas Conkle at conklel@alumni.greensboro.edu.
For membership information, visit http://www.danriver.org/.

DRBA to Hike Fieldale Trail January 7

2011-12-05T10:02:00.013-05:00

Start of DRBA’s Tenth Year Celebration

The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) will begin its Tenth Year Celebration with a January 7 hike on the Fieldale Trail beside the Smith River in Fieldale, Virginia. Participants will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Fieldale Park (GPS 36.700615,-79.934185) near the site of the old Fieldale Iron Bridge for an out-and-back stroll coordinated by Friends of the Fieldale Trail volunteers.

Hikers may choose to walk a distance of from 1 ½ to 6 miles, since two sections comprise the trail—a 1.5-mile Upper Fieldale Trail from Fieldale Park to the original trailhead, and a 1.5-mile Lower Fieldale Trail downstream from the trailhead. Both segments are flat and easy to walk. Walking the entire distance out and back gives a total of six miles.

The Fieldale Trail offers "a golden opportunity to see Mother Nature up close and personal right in our own backyard," according to Adopt-a-Trail volunteers Charles and Pat Dameron. Tommy Wyatt, a leader of DRBA’s Friends of the Fieldale Trail, adds, “The trail is a great place to meet people from the community. Families, children, elderly people, bicyclists, and even people training for marathons use the trail as part of their daily activities.”

Hugging the bank of the Smith River, the graveled Upper Fieldale Trail winds through woods and open fields frequented by a variety of birds to the trailhead at the Fieldale Canoe Access, where a restroom is available. From there, the natural-surface Lower Fieldale Trail enters the riverside forest and skirts rhododendron bluffs alongside the river to its downstream terminus. Towering sycamore trees shelter the trail, and gravel bars and rock formations in the streambed give voice to the river.

Envisioned at a 2005 planning session of DRBA’s Martinsville-Henry County affiliate, the Fieldale Trial is part of the proposed 45-mile Smith River Trail System from Philpott Dam to the river’s confluence with the Dan River at Eden, NC, as well as the Beaches to Bluegrass Trail across Southern Virginia.

One mile of the Upper Fieldale Trail opened in July, 2007 and the Lower Fieldale Trail was dedicated in March, 2009. Built with both public and private support, the trail is operated by Henry County Parks & Recreation.

A special attraction is a section of the 1931 Fieldale Iron Bridge that carried traffic across the Smith River for nearly 70 years. When the bridge was replaced in 2009, present and former residents and friends of Fieldale from all over the United States contributed funds, time, and materials to save trusses of the landmark structure. The 54-foot portion of the historic bridge now proudly serves as nearby trail art.

Construction of the Textile Heritage Trail, an extension of the Upper Fieldale Trail, is currently underway. The loop trail will feature interpretive signs celebrating the textile heritage on which the town of Fieldale was based. Brian Williams, DRBA’s Program Manager, notes that “a hard-packed gravel surface and boardwalk will make this entire trail handicapped accessible.”

Jennifer Doss, Director of Tourism, says, “The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation is pleased to work in partnership with DRBA to construct the Textile Heritage Trail. Part of our Deep Roots Legacy, this project ties together the wonderful natural resources that our community has to offer, along with its rich heritage of textiles.”

Participants in the hike should meet at 10:00 a.m. at Fieldale Park, 188 Field Avenue, at the intersection of Field Avenue and South River Road. Bring lunch, water and a hiking stick; wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots; dress in layers of water-shedding artificial fabric or wool; and be prepared for rain or wind. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver form.

Directions: From US 220 take the VA 609 exit towards Fieldale. Turn right at Dillon’s Fork Road, continue on Virginia Avenue, continue on Patrick Avenue, turn right at Field Avenue. Turn right at South River Road, and immediately turn right into the parking lot of the Fieldale Park.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For more information, contact Trip Coordinator Paula Wyatt at 276-647-3274 or pwyatt1@embarqmail.com.
For membership information, visit http://www.danriver.org/.

Step Back to 1728 with DRBA on December 3 Outing

2011-10-19T11:16:00.041-04:00

Dr. Will Truslow, avid outdoorsman and past president of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), will coordinate DRBA's First Saturday Outing December 3- a 2.5 mile hike beside the Mayo River. Truslow, who often runs the Mayo River in his kayak, will meet hikers at 10:00am under Anglin Mill Bridge (GPS 36.53454, -79.99010), about 0.3 mile upstream from Mayo Beach, not far om the famous "Boiling Hole."

From the meeting place, participants will walk north along the Mayo River to Fall Creek. They will turn upstream beside the creek, hikers will proceed downstream along Fall Creek back to the river's edge. They will continue north along the Mayo to a place where the North Mayo and South Mayo rivers meet near the state line.

Crossing from North Carolina into Virginia, the hikers will arrive at the literal "high point" of the outing: "Byrd's Rock" or "Byrd's Ledge." Here William Byrd, leader of the survey party that established the border between Virginia and Carolina in 1728, viewed his crossing and camping place on the west side of the North Mayo River. In keeping with the survey party's experience, DRBA participants will take their lunch break at Byrd's Ledge.

Hikers will then retrace their steps to the meeting place, again crossing Fall Creek on large rocks.

Truslow comments,"This is a flat hike that goes right beside the Mayo River and is just beautiful. Seeing the massive rock formation of the Falls is the highligt of the hike and is very impressive. It's hard to imagine an 18-foot waterfall in Rockingham County.

Thanks to efforts by DRBA, most of the path, as well as the Fall Creek waterfall are included in North Carolina's Mayo River State Park. In additional, the North Mayo and South Mayo rivers are recognized as Virginia Scenic Rivers for several miles upstream from thier confluence.

To reach the trailhead under Anglin Mill Bridge, exit US 220, turning west on Smith Road (SR 1360), winding four miles to a T-intersection wth Anglin Mill Road (SR 1358). Turn left on Anglin Mill Road and travel about a half-mile to within less than a mile of the bridge across the Mayo River. Turn left on unpaved Anglin Loop Road (SR 1385). This road will be not far past DeShazo Mill Road and the fire station. At the river, turn right on Mayo Beach Road (SR 1359), following the river upstream past the Boiling Hole to a parking area under the Anglin Mill Bridge.

Participants are asked to bring a walking stick, lunch and water, to wear stout boots and layered clothing, and to sign a waiver.

Meetings and outings of the Dan River Basin Association are free and open to the public. For more information about the outing, contact Will Truslow at (336) 547-1903 or willtruslow@hotmail.com. For information about the Dan River Basin Association visit http://www.danriver.org/.

DRBA Plans Smith River Float - November 5

2011-09-28T11:35:00.012-04:00

DRBA First Saturday Outing on Popular Section!

On November 5 the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) will celebrate autumn with a float on the most popular section of the Smith River-Marrowbone Creek Access to Mitchell Bridge Access in Henry County, Virginia.

Meeting at 10:00am at the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve, 2525 Eggleston Falls Road in Ridgeway, VA (36.611067,-79.817712), the group will launch canoes and kayaks at the nearby access point. The 3.5-mile "blueway" Smith River Trail section, rated Class 1, is suitable for novice paddlers.

For boat rentals and shuttle, contact Smith River Adventure Outfitters,276-252-0701, http://www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com/ or Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215, 276-340-3983, http://www.3-r-o.com/.

Trip coordinator is Wayne Kirkpatrick, President of DRBA, aided by other DRBA members who frequent this section of the river.

For the first half mile of the trip, the river flows alongside the Gravely Nature Preserve's high bluffs where paddlers can glimpse the Rhododenron Trail. As the name implies, the path winds through a rhododenron thicket as it hugs the river's edge.

About a mile farther on, Leatherwood Creek enters from river left. Paddlers may choose to enter the wide mouth of the creek and take a leisurely side trip upstream to observe fall foliage and birdlife. Early American patriot Patrick Henry, for whom both Patrick and Henry counties are named, lived on a large plantation near the headwaters of Leatherwood Creek from 1779-1786.

Just below the mouth of the Leatherwood Creek is a broad rounded boulder in the middle of the river. Known locally as "Lunch Rock," It makes "a perfect spot to stop for a break," according to "An Insider's Guide to the Smith River," DRBA's detailed river guide available at http://www.danriver.org/.

Henry County, in partnership with DRBA, has made the Smith River accessible to the public over the past four years by building public access points at eight new sites along the river, including the Marrowbone Creek Access, which opened in 2007. and Mitchell Bridge Access, built in 2009.

Participants are invited to linger after the outing to enjoy the Gravely Nature Preserve, part of the county's "greenway" Smith River Trail system, which was dedicated April 2008. Developed by DRBA and Henry County, with funding from The Harvest Foundation, the 75-acre preserve features two miles of interpretive trails. Historic features include early twentieth-century tobacco barns and the Burgess Family cemetary, reminders of former owners of the property.

Industrialist, civic leader, and archaeologist Richard P. Gravely, Jr. owned the property in the late twentieth century and left instructions for its preservation as a wildlife and nature conservancy. The preserve now hosts educational and recreational events for all ages, including day camps, fitness walks, historic presentations, workshops, after-school programs, and geo-caching.

Participants in the outing are asked to bring boat and paddles, life jackets, lunch and water, to dress in layers of artificial (quick-drying) fabric and to sign a waiver.

To reach the Gravely Nature Preserve from US 220 south of Martinsville, turn east at a traffic light onto Old Sand Road. Cross the US 58 overpass and immediately turn left onto Eggleston Falls Road. Travel about two miles to the preserve, which is on the left, across from the foot of Old Mill Road.

Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For information about the outing, contact Wayne Kirkpatrick, 276-694-4449 or wynbtyk@embarqmail.com.

For membership information, visit http://www.danriver.org/.

DRBA to Clean Historic Section of Dan River

2011-09-06T11:25:00.023-04:00

You're invited to DRBA's October 1 outing - a 5-mile cleanup float on the Dan River from Whetstone Creek to Eden. Meet at 10:00am at the NC Wildlife Access in Eden (36.4752, -79.7503), We'll paddle through several navigation sites, well-preserved ninetenth century river structures now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Corrdinated by T and Lindley Butler, the cleanup is part of NC Big Sweep, the statewide component of an international watershed cleanup. Participants record the types of trash they find,contributing to statistics that help design educational programs to prevent littering.

T Butler, who served for many years on the NC Big Sweep Board of Directors, says,"I am extremely proud of DRBA's roll in working to keep our rivers clean and safe. Our goal is litter-free waters throughout the Dan River Basin in North Carolina and Virginia.

"And", she adds, "DRBA participants always have a good time while we're collecting litter."

The navigation structure in the Dan, built in the 1820's and expanded as late as the 1880's, include sluices, landings, and wing dams that made the river usable by flatbottomed batteaux, the long, narrow workhorses of nineteenth century river commerce in the region.

According to Lindley Butler, a senior North Carolina historian,"The structures channel the water through rapids and ledges that would have blocked the batteaux, each of which carried several tons of goods. Present-day recreational users enjoy the effects of these structures, which have been self-maintaining for over 130 years.

"Because of the navigation system," he continues, "this section is rated as Class 1, suitable for novice paddlers. The improvements made in the 19th century enable us to float the Dan throughout Rockingham County even in times of extreme drought."

In this section, boaters will pass through several of these improvements, including Galloway's Lower Ford Sluice and Sneed Strong's Fish Dam Sluice. Two miles into the trip, on river left, was the Grief Wade Plantation where coal was mined during the Civil War and shipped by batteau to heat military prisons in Danville.

Just after passing the confluence of Buffalo Island Creek on river left, boaters will pass under the Harrington Highway Bridge, the site of former Hamlin's (Menzies) Island. Students of river hydrology explain that islands appear and disappear as a result of water action during heavy storms and floods.

Nearby on river left one may see a fine stand of the river cane common on the river when William Byrd surveyed the "Dividing Line" in 1728 but now gradually disappearing throughout much of the river's length.

During a lunch break at Leaksville Landing, boaters can view the crib structure in the river to which the nineteenth century batteaux were moored. Leaksville Landing is the only known batteau port in the United States.

After lunch participants will drift past Johnston's Landing and then the site of the former Leaksville Covered Bridge, where a massive stone pier from the 1852 span survives, along with a 150-foot-long sluice wall on river right.

One of the last points of interest on the trip will be the confluence of the Smith River, which enters the Dan from river left. More information may be found on Maps 47-50 of An Insider's Guide to the Dan River, available at http://www.danriver.org/.

Participants in the outing are asked to bring boat, life jackets, gloves, lunch and water, to dress in layers of artificial (quick-drying) fabric and to sign a waiver. Trash bags will be provided.

Boats may be rented from Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215, http://www.3-r-o.com/.

To reach Eden Wildlife Access from the north, travel south on NC 14 through the city of Eden. After crossing the Dan River, turn right at the traffic signal onto Harrington Highway. Take the first right, Bethlehem Church Road, turning right again at the Wildlife Access.

From the south, turn left off NC 14 onto Harrington Highway at the traffic signal just south of the Dan River. Turn right onto Bethlehem Church Road, then turn right to the Wildlife Access.

From the west, take NC 770 or NC 135 towards Eden. Turn right onto Harrington Highway and continue to Bethlehem Church Road. Turn left, and then right to the Wildlife Access.

From the northeast take US 58 to Danville's western city limit, turning left on Road 863 to Berryhill Community, where 863 becomes NC 770 West. Follow NC 770 West into Eden to NC 14. Turn left onto NC 14 and travel south through Eden, cross the Dan River and turn right at the traffic signal onto Harrington Highway. Take the first right, Bethlehem Church Road, turning right again at the Wildlife Access.

For more information, contact T Butler, 336-349-5727, members@danriver.org.

For membership information, visit http://www.danriver.org/.

September 3 Outing - Relocated

2011-08-31T13:00:00.004-04:00

The September 3 First Saturday Outing had to be relocated since the Mayo River is too shallow, and the take-out access point is closed temporarily.

Instead, we will be running the Madison-Jacob's Creek section
NC 704 Access in Madison. Group leaders will be at the original put in site to pick up paddlers that did not get the info about the trip change. From the Anglins Mill site they will go to the 704 Madison Access. Most should be there by 10:30-10:45. We'll sign the waivers and set the shuttle from there, so there will be a few minutes' leeway.

Here are the directions to the Madison access point:

1. Take US 220 South toward Greensboro.

2. Cross Dan River, and take first ramp onto NC 704 toward Madison.

3. At the first traffic light, turn right onto Market Street (small brown sign directs to Dan River Access).

4. Go two blocks, and turn right onto Murphy Street.

5. Cross the railroad tracks and turn right at the bottom of the hill onto Water Street.

6. Continue under the bridge. The access site is on the left.

DRBA SEPTEMBER 3 OUTING - FLOATS MAYO RIVER

2011-08-23T11:04:00.011-04:00

You're invited! Spend part of your Labor Day holiday close to home, in a beautiful setting with friendly companions, as DRBA floats the Mayo River in Rockingham County, NC on September 3.

Meeting at 10:00 am at Old Anglin Mill Road (GPS 36.52976, -79.98952), downstream from Anglin Mill Bridge, this First Saturday Outing will cover nine and a half miles to US 220 Business Access, near the towns of Stoneville and Mayodan.

Trip coordinator is experienced paddler, musician, and solar power pioneer Kirby Wilkins, known for his musical talent and scientific acumen. Wilkins, a guitarist with his own band, also repairs guitars and gives guitar lessons. He often sets up his telescope away from city lights and sometimes teaches about stars at Rockingham Community College.

The Mayo River between Mayo Beach and the US 220 Business Access is a fairly easy section of Class 1 and Class 2 rapids suitable for a family outing. There is one tricky rapid just below the put-in which can be avoided by putting in downstream from it. Those with a yen for a little more excitement will have the option of running the famous "Boiling Hole" and the "S-turn" (alias "Blender") before proceeding with the rest of the trip.

Participants in the outing are asked to bring boat, life jacket, lunch and water, to dress in artificial (quick-drying) fabric and to sign a waiver.

Direction: To reach the put-in, from 220 north of Stoneville, exit onto Smith Road (SR 1360) and turn west. Go four miles to a T-intersection with Anglin Mill Road (SR 1358). Turn left on Anglin Mill Road and travel about a half-mile to within less than a mile of the Anglin Mill Bridge over the Mayo. Turn left onto unpaved Old Anglin Mill Road (SR 1385). Go one-half mile to a T-intersection with Mayo Beach Road (SR 1359).

Information: Trip Coordinator Kirby Wilkins, 336-349-5948.

Smith River Cleanup

2011-08-08T13:31:00.017-04:00

Volunteers once again gave back to the Smith River Saturday, August 6, 2011, as Gateway Streetscapes, Dan River Basin Association and Smith River Trout Unlimited combined forces for a clean sweep down a one mile section of the river, loading canoes, supplied for free by Smith River Adventures Outfitters, with everything from plastic bags to old tires.

“I think the river grows tires on the bottom down in this section,” said Lisa Hall, Trout Unlimited volunteer.
“There certainly were an abundance of tires littering the bottom of the Smith, we can’t get them all but we’ll get what we can in one day”, said Eric Capps of Gateway.
The section from Fieldale Bridge to the Fieldale Trail Canoe Ramp was selected as the target area. About 25 volunteers showed up to help out unfortunately, most were the same volunteers who show up whenever these events are done. “We haven’t figured out yet how to get all the “talkers” and other users of the resource off their butts to give back a little” said Al Kittredge. Seems like that attitude of “let the other guy do it” is what’s wrong with the country today.
A cookout was held after the clean-up to feed the group and plan for the next one! Our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers for coming out to lend a hand in making this a cleaner place to live and play.

Friends of Philpott Gear Swap

2011-07-25T14:08:00.009-04:00

Saturday, August 13 · 9:00am - 4:00pm

Smith River Sports Complex - Smith River Fest
1000 Irisburg Road
Axton, Virginia

At the main festival grounds. Earn some extra cash! Bring your unwanted, gently used recreational gear and accessories so they can find a new home at the gear swap hosted by Friends of Philpott Lake.

A 10% commission fee from each sale will benefit the development of Bowens Creek Park, a fully handicap accessible recreation facility.

For those that are not able to attend. Friends of Philpott will make arrangements to pick-up/drop off items you want to sale at the Gear Swap and settle afterwards.
Contact: Linda Drage, Complete Handicap Wellness Park @ Bowens Creek: Chairperson
ldrage@comcast.net or call 276-681-6805.

The Explorer's Club

2011-07-05T09:59:00.019-04:00

A group of eight local students had no idea what was in store for them as they scampered their way down rocks and through a hidden passage to a beautiful, majestic waterfall nestled right in the heart of Kibler Valley!

Thanks to an exciting new program, known as the Explorer’s Club, developed by the Dan River Basin Association, a select group of students became the first participants in this new adventure to experience and learn about everything from kayaking and canoeing to map and compass orientation and even wilderness survival skills. The students ranged in age from 10 to 13 and all were from the Martinsville-Henry County area. They were brought together through a selection process which involved filling out an extensive application providing summaries of their backgrounds and brief narrations of why they would like to be a part of the program. They spent eight days together acquiring new skills and experiences in the outdoors.

The young explorers met almost every day for two weeks and learned about topics such as how to survive in the outdoors, how to explore without leaving a trace, and how to identify certain plants like trees and wild flowers. They were encouraged to push their comfort zones and explore beyond their usual boundaries while learning how to kayak and canoe and take wilderness hikes. The group was lead by Smith River Adventure Outfitters, Eric Judday and botany enthusiast, Chad Lange. Each day the group was also accompanied by a DRBA staff member or DRBA volunteer.

When the group first came together, the young explorers were anxious to get started but also a little shy about being around people they had never met before. After a few days, the kids were no longer strangers; they had broken out of their shells and became a tight group that could depend on one another. Each child showed how adventurous and courageous they really were when it came time to try something new. On one hike, a northern water snake was discovered and each explorer got a chance to touch or hold the snake. On another day, Wayne Kirkpatrick, DRBA President introduced the group to all kinds of aquatic life and all the explorers were brave enough to try their hand at holding a crayfish that was found hiding in the river. Lisa Hall, DRBA volunteer also spent some time teaching the techniques of fly fishing to the explorers on the beautiful Smith River.

When it was time for all the fun to be over, it was no doubt that this group of young, courageous explorers would go back to their daily lives with a new kind of self assurance and courage. Hopefully, one day when passing a local stream or river, a glimpse of something they learned or experienced will make them smile and they will share it with their friends and family so they too can want to be a part of enjoying the outdoors. All of this was made possible through sponsorship of the Dan River Basin Association and funding from the Harvest Foundation.

First Saturday Outing - July 2

2011-06-30T13:48:00.012-04:00

The Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing on July 2 will be a 5-mile round-trip paddle on Philpott Lake from Ryan's Branch to Emerson Falls.

Meet at Ryan's Branch on the Union Bridge Road (GPS 36.849853,-80.10227).
Dress in layers of synthetic fabric, wear sunscreen and hat, and bring boat, paddles, life jackets, lunch and water.

Free and open to the public.

For more information contact: Craig S. Rockwell, 276-629-4512 Ex 224, Craig.S.Rockwell@usace.army.mil

PHILPOTT LAKE PHOTO CONTEST

2011-06-27T10:34:00.015-04:00

Here is your chance to enter your picture and a chance to win some fantastic prizes including money (Based on the number of entries)???
PHILPOTT LAKE PHOTO CONTEST
THIS CONTEST IS INTENDED FOR ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE

1. THERE WILL BE A $15.00 DONATION FOR EACH ENTRY. ENTRANTS MAY ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS THEY WISH.
ALL PROFIT FROM ENTRY FEES WILL GO TO THE BOWENS CREEK HANDICAP WELLNESS PARK.For the purposes of this Contest, no judges or anyone associated with judges, including family members, will be able to enter.

2. CONTEST ENTRY PERIOD: The Contest Entry Period begins at 12:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“EST”) on April 18, 2011 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on June 30, 2011. Entries must be received and recorded by Photo Contest Manager’s computer during the Contest Entry Period. The Photo Contest Manager’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Contest.

3. TO PARTICIPATE: To participate in the Contest, contacted Linda Drage by email ldrage@comcast.net during the Contest Entry Period and follow the instructions to enter and upload a creative, well composed and well lit photo of the Philpott Dam/Lake in any direction

THE DAM NO LATER NEEDS TO BE IN THE PICTURE. Each photo must have a signed entry form. Signed forms maybe mail to Linda Drage; 330 Mack Rd., Martinsville, VA 24112. All photos must be sent by email. By participating, you agree to be bound by these Rules and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects

By submitting an Entry, you hereby grant Sponsor consent, the right to copy, publish, display and otherwise use your Photo for purposes of the this Contest or for any advertising or publicity on behalf of the Sponsor and you agree that the Photo may be cropped, or otherwise altered for this purpose only. The Entrants will still remain the owner of the photo.

All Entrants must have a valid email address. In the event of a dispute regarding Entries received from multiple users having the same email account, the authorized subscriber of the email account at the time of submission will be deemed to be the Entrant and must comply with these Rules

4. PHOTO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Photo must be in JPEG format

Photo must be an attachment not imdded in the email

Photo may not be sexually explicit or suggestive, unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, profane or pornographic, cantain nudity or any dangerous activity.

Photo may not promote alcohol, illegal dugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or any use of any of the foregoing), any actiities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message

Photo may not be obscene or offensive, endorse any form of hate or hate group

Photo may not defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about Sponsor or other people, products or companies.

Photo may not contain trademarks, logos or trade dress owned by others, or advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind, or contain any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street address.

Photo may not contain copyrighted material owned by others (including potographs, sculpture, paintings and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media).

Photo may not communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill to which Sponsor wishes to associate
Photo may not depect, and cannot itself, be in violation of any law
ENTRIES POSTED TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE WILL NOT BE EDITED BY SPONSOR FOR THE CONTEST AND ARE THE VIEWS/OPINIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT AND DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF SPONSOR IN ANY MANNER.

5. WINNER SELECTION: All eligible Entries will be judged by independent judges, whose decisions regarding this Contest are final and binding in all respects, based on the following criteria: (a) 40% Adherence to Theme, (b) 30% Creativity, (c) 15% Composition and (d) 15% Focus/Lighting. In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken based on the highest score in the “Creativity” Judging Criteria. If a tie continues, then a tie(s) will be broken by the Entry with highest cumulative score in the second criteria, continuing thereafter to the third criteria, as needed, to break the tie the three Entries with the highest scores will receive a prize as set forth below.

6. PRIZES: One (1) First Prize: The Entrant with the highest score will receive a check for half the amount from total entries. The Entrant with the second highest score will receive a prize to be stated later; as well as the Entrant with the third highest score. Each Entrant will receive a Dam Post Card from the Dam Collectables. Limit one (1) prize per person. If a prize, or any portion thereof, cannot be awarded for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize with another prize of equal or greater value. Prizes won by minors will be awarded along with minor's parent or legal guardian, who must sign and return form.

7. WINNER NOTIFICATION: Winners will be notified on June 30, 2011. Sponsor is not responsible for any change of email, mailing address and/or telephone number of Entrants.
8. GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating, Entrants agree to these Rules, which are final and binding in all respects. If the Winner cannot be reached within ten (10) business days of notification or winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Rules, prize will be forfeited. By entering, each winner grants (and will confirm that grant in writing) permission to Sponsor the right to use the winner’s name, picture, likeness, voice, biographical information, and Entry (whether modified, edited, used alone, or used with other works) at any time, in any form, in any media, without compensation of any kind and without notice, review, or approval. Entrants further agree that submission of an Entry is gratuitous and made without restriction, and will not place Sponsor under any obligation.
You will need to certify that you are the photographer and sole copyright owner of the submitted Photo, and you have obtained consent of all identifiable persons shown in the Photo for use by Sponsor as set forth herein. By signing you are agreeing to the terms of the contest.You can get your form by emailing request to Linda Drage: ldrage@comcast.net or calling me at 276-681-6805. You can also pick -up at the Bassett Community Market any Thursday afternoon from noon to 3:00 PM.

Smith River Mini-Triathlon

2011-05-19T23:04:00.000-04:00

Smith River Mini-Triathlon

Run: 1.2 miles along the beautiful Smith River Paddle: 1.2 miles on the Smith River's class I rapids. Bike: 2.5 miles on paved and natural surface terrain. Experienced mountain bikers for bike leg. Awards for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place finishers. All pre-registered participants receive a T-shirt. Classes: Solo-Youth, Male, & Female. Team-All Male, All Female, Coed different age increments. Call 403-5140 for more inf. Registration brochures are online at www.martinsville-va.gov/Parks-and-Recreation.html or call us for a registration brochure.
DATE/TIME: Saturday, May 21, Registration and check in 9am-9:45am. Race starts at 10am
11:15am-Awards ceremony at Trailhead
LOCATION: Fieldale Trail Head, (Off River Rd., Fieldale, VA)
FEE: $15 per participant, $20 fee day of the event
Kayaks & Canoes available to rent - $15 - Smith River Outfitters, Must reserve kayaks by calling 252-0701 or canoes - 403-5140 & they will be onsite.

2011-05-19T22:31:00.000-04:00

You’re invited!
Draper Landing to Berry Hill Float June 4

Join in DRBA’s seven-mile float on the Dan River from Eden’s Draper Landing Access to Berry Hill Bridge on June 4, coordinated by Will Truslow, DRBA’s past president.

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the access’s graveled parking lot beside the NC 700 Bridge to set the shuttle (GPS 36.4987, -79.6814). Three Rivers Outfitters of Eden, 336-627-6215 or www.3-R-O.com, will offer boat rentals and shuttle for the float, which will end on private property with the owner’s permission.

In this river trip of Class I water, participants will navigate at least seven ledges and shoals with long-standing historic names found on old maps. Six of these have been made easier to navigate by structures such as sluice walls built in the nineteenth century by the Roanoke Navigation Company (founded 1812), a joint effort of Virginia and North Carolina, and by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The sluice walls concentrate the river’s water at shallow ledges, creating a narrow channel deep enough to float long, narrow batteaux, the commercial “semi-trailers” of early river travel.

Nearly a century before the river was improved for navigation, in 1728 a survey team led by Virginia’s William Byrd determined the “dividing line” between North Carolina and Virginia. Byrd named the Dan River for the river in northern Israel and gave names that still survive to many of the river’s tributaries. One was Cascade Creek, which enters from river left about halfway through the trip, so called “by reason of the multitude of waterfalls that are in it” some distance before it reaches the Dan.

Devil’s Jump Shoal, just downstream from Cascade Creek, is named for impressive mid-river rocks. On river right less than a mile downstream from Devil’s Jump is the confluence of the Dan with Tanyard Creek, named for the tannery owned by John Morehead, father of North Carolina Governor John Motley Morehead, who grew up nearby.

Between two old sluice walls of Tanyard Shoal, separated by nearly a half-mile of the Dan’s flow, is a place called on an 1823 survey “The Wreck,” according to William E. Trout III, author of the Dan River Atlas. “Why?” he asks, inviting future river mappers to solve the mystery.

Other examples of intriguing nineteenth-century labels are Beasley’s Gallows Shoal Sluice and the well-preserved Hairston’s Fish Trap Sluice, likely modified from an Amerindian fish weir of 1000 years ago.

The trip is part of the series of over 100 First Saturday Outings that have been offered by DRBA almost from its inception. Other interesting facts about the geology, history, and culture of this section of the river are found in Maps 42 – 45 of “An Insider’s Guide to the Dan River in North Carolina and Virginia,” available at www.danriver.org

Participants in the outing are asked to provide boat, life jacket, lunch and water, to dress in layers of artificial (quick-drying) fabric and to sign a waiver.

Directions: To reach Draper Landing Access (GPS 36.4987, -79.6814) from the north or west, take NC 14 to NC 700 East. Travel on NC 700 about 4 miles through Eden to the bridge over the Dan River. After crossing the bridge, go 0.1 mile and turn left into the gravel driveway to the access.

From the south take US 29 North, turning left (west) on NC 700. Just past Quesinberry Road, turn right into the gravel driveway to the access beside the NC 700 Bridge over the Dan.

From the east take US 29 South, turning right (west) on NC 700, and proceed as described above.

More information: For trip information, contact trip coordinator Will Truslow, 336-547-1903, willtruslow@hotmail.com

336-627-6270 http://www.danriver.org

Axton Elementary say's "Bye Bye trout"

2011-05-10T01:49:00.001-04:00

Its Monday morning on the Smith River at Bassett Virginia and vivacious group of young students pile out of the big yellow bus, excited to be out of school and ready for an adventure on the river. These students from Hannah Sullivan's class at Axton Elementary have been raising brown trout (with a little help from their teacher) for the past 6 months in a tank in their classroom. They are one of 31 tanks across 4 counties in one of the country's single largest Trout in the Classroom Programs, TIC in Southern Virginia !

Each year, students and teachers get brown trout eggs from the state hatchery at Wytheville in December, The tiny pinkish / orange eggs are only a few weeks old when the schools first receive them and these "eye-up" eggs are placed in breeder baskets made of netting and suspended off edge of the tank.

Its not long before the first trout start to "break out of their shell" and get their first look at a new environment.

Often, the first thing the new trout see are many eyes on the outside of the tank, staring back at them !

By Christmas the fry have hatched are now called alevins, Just a few weeks later and the "sac fry" have absorbed all their yolk sacs and are ready to start eating trout food.

Once the trout are big enough to be "swim-ups" they are released from the breeder net in to the tank. By May, the trout are now big, fat and healthy and are known as "fingerlings" and at this stage they are ready to be released in the Smith River.

The students and teachers help take care of the trout and have to make sure the water is cleaned and the trout are fed. They also have to make sure the water is the correct ph and the ammonia levels are low.

The students are learning that trout need good clean water to survive. So now the big day has arrived and they are ready to take theses trout they have been raising and let them go into their new river home.

On this day, The Dan River Basins new Executive Director, Tiffany Haworth, donned rubber boots and joined the students as they introduced the trout to their new home.

After the last trout swam out to deeper water, it was time for the students to take a "stream walk" and learn more about the river and what the trout were going to eat now that they would not be fed each day by the students.

On the stream walk the students learned that bugs like stoneflys, mayflys, helgramites and crayfish (macro-invertebrates) live under the rocks and logs in the river. A seine net was used to capture some of the macros for closer examination.

It was another great day in the best classroom in the world...the river
Thanks to Hannah and Patrick Sullivan, all the students and teachers at Axton Elementary and a special thanks to Tiffany Haworth for helping the kids stay "mostly" dry during the stream walk experience !

DRBA First Saturday Outing for May

2011-04-12T15:14:00.000-04:00

DRBA Paddles the Dan in Stokes County

DRBA’s May 7 First Saturday Outing will be a 5-mile paddle trip on the Dan River in Stokes County from Snow Creek Access to Hemlock Golf Course Access coordinated by Will Truslow.

Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Snow Creek Access, about 200 yards west of Dodgetown Road Bridge on Pitzer Road (GPS 36.4026, -80.1404), to unload boats and gear and set the shuttle.

For boat rentals and shuttle, contact Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215 or 276-340-3983, www.3-r-o.com, or Dan River Company, 336-593-2628, www.danrivercompany.com.

History and legend abound on this section of the river, which is characterized by high bluffs forested with hardwoods and stands of stately hemlock trees. Just upstream of the put-in is the frame of the Pitzer Steel Truss Bridge, dating from 1918.

About half a mile below Snow Creek is Thompson’s Fish Dam, which has remnants of a rare wooden slat trap. According to “An Insider’s Guide to the Dan River,” a “heavy timber frame, about eight feet square, formed a grid of slats” to trap fish channeled into the trap by a vee-shaped low rock wall.

At least two branches of the Great Wagon Road forded the river at shoals on this section, and caves are said to have been used by Confederate draft dodgers.

Rock formations and uncommon Carolina hemlock stands have received recognition as the Dan River Cliffs natural heritage area.

According to Truslow, “This section of the Dan has the last of the really high bluffs before the river winds on into the Piedmont. Some are about 150 feet high.”

The most spectacular is Davis Bluff, a dramatic rock face on river left where huge boulders lie in the water at the base of the cliff. Legend says that a member of the Davis family fell to his death from the road on top. To this day, the cliff is known as Mount Horrible.

The Dan River in this section is rated mostly as Class 1, but the remains of a former Duke Power dam, dynamited in 1975, create a sometimes challenging Class 2 rapid. Fortunately, it is located within sight of the take-out ramp at Hemlock Golf Course.

Meet at 10:00 at the Snow Creek Access on Pitzer Road. Arrange to supply boat, paddles, life jackets, water and lunch; wear water-shedding artificial fabric or wool (not cotton, and certainly not blue jeans); and provide a back-up change of clothing. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver.

Directions: At the intersection of NC 8 and NC 89 about 3 miles south of Danbury, NC, turn northeast onto Dodgetown Road. Drive about 4 miles and cross the Dan River. Immediately turn left onto Pitzer Road. Snow Creek Access is on the left in about 200 yards.

Driving south from Virginia on US 220, turn west on NC 770 to Sandy Ridge. Turn south on NC 704 to Prestonville. Turn south on NC 772 toDodgetown. Turn right onto Dodgetown Road and drive about 4 miles. Just before crossing the Dan River, turn right onto Pitzer Road. Snow Creek Access is on the left in about 200 yards.

More Information: Will Truslow, 336-547-1903, willtruslow@hotmail.com

New Walking Trail Opens at PHCC

2011-04-05T14:17:00.019-04:00

Cutting a ribbon to open a new trail at Patrick Henry Community College and the city reservoir are (from left) Ron Epperly of PHCC; Jennifer Doss, tourism director and formerly with the Dan River Basin Association; Brian Williams of DRBA; Martinsville Mayor Kim Adkins; Jim Frith of Frith Construction, which had the contract to build the trail; Martinsville City Manager Clarence Monday; City Parks and Recreation director Gary Cody; and Jeff Mansour of the Harvest Foundation, which paid for the trail. Thanks to a unique partnership between Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville City, The Harvest Foundation and Dan River Basin Association, the community has a new hiking and biking trail through the woods around the beautiful Beaver Creek Reservoir. The project was funded by Harvest with in-kind donations from Martinsville City Parks and Recreation Department. Land easements were provided by PHCC and Martinsville City. The project was developed by Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) and trail construction was completed by Frith Construction Company. Additional work was provided by Boy Scout Troop 63 which built benches and picnic tables that were installed by Martinsville Parks and Recreation at various points along the scenic trail. The Beaver Creek Reservoir is also known as the Martinsville Reservoir and is a source of drinking water for the City of Martinsville. The natural setting of this beautiful lake makes it ideal for hiking, fishing and nature viewing. Surrounded by steep hills and lush forest, canoeing, kayaking and fishing are also favorite activities at the lake. The trailhead and parking is located at the upper level parking area adjacent to the Frith Building on the campus of Patrick Henry Community College. Students and the general public have easy access to the trail from campus parking lot. Future plans include extending the trail around the edge of the reservoir and connecting it to a parking area located across the lake from PHCC, at the end of boat ramp drive. The trail is considered a multi-use trail and is open to hiking, mountain biking, running, and nature viewing. Trail users are asked to “share the trail” and help keep the area clean and beautiful by “taking only photographs and leaving only footprints”. PHCC Trail Loop of the Beaver Creek Reservoir Trails & Smith River Trail System is approximately 3/4 of a mile long natural surface trail to be used by hikers, mountain bikers, and to be utilized as an out-door classroom for PHCC students.

Back to the River !

2011-03-24T18:39:00.000-04:00

April 2, 2011

Back to the River!

Back to the River! April 2 Outing on Smith River from Bassett to Great Road Access

DRBA’s First Saturday Outing on April 2, 2011 will celebrate springtime with a return to the water—a 5.2-mile float on the Smith River in Henry County from the Bassett Access to the newly opened Great Road Access. Charlie Williams, expert paddler and Outings Committee Chair, will coordinate the trip.

Participants are asked to meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Bassett Canoe Access, 271 Trent Hill Drive, Bassett, VA (GPS 36.76992,-80.00147) to unload boats and gear and set the shuttle.
For boat rentals and shuttle, contact Smith River Adventure Outfitters, 276-252-0701, www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com or Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215, 276-340-3983, www.3-r-o.com.
Constructed through a partnership of DRBA and Henry County, both the Bassett and Great Road accesses are part of the Smith River Trail System, a growing network of blueways and greenways designed to connect riverside communities through Henry County, VA, downstream to Eden, NC.

The Bassett Canoe Access, opened in 2006, is located at the now dormant J. D. Bassett Chair Factory, which “stands as a silent testament to an historic furniture industry that once supplied America,” according to “An Insider’s Guide to the Smith River.”

As the Smith runs through the town of about 1,300 residents, remnants of the past remind paddlers of the river’s history. In the 19th century, Smith’s River Navigation Company built rock wing dams and sluices to enable long, narrow batteaux to haul iron and grain to market in Danville.
Although commercial navigation on the river was short-lived, the company’s wing dams survived and were modified by twentieth-century riverside industries for water intakes. Shortly below the put-in, paddlers will pass the “Leaning Tower of Bassett,” one of these later structures.
On river left, the Norfolk Southern Railway line parallels the river the full length of the float, serving past and present factories in this important industrial center.
About a mile into the trip, on river right is Bassett Historical Center, which houses a wealth of local historical and genealogical materials used by patrons from around the world. Just downstream is the third of six bridges that span this section of the river.
A short distance below the fifth bridge is Blackberry Creek, entering from river right. The Great Wagon Road crossed the Smith River nearby, providing a route for settlers migrating through the region in days gone by.
From Blackberry Creek for a half mile is “The Hayfields,” where the river is shallow and “trout fishing is best accomplished by wading,” according to DRBA staff member and avid trout fisherman Brian Williams, who wrote the Smith River guide. Trout thrive throughout this portion of the river.
The take-out is at the Great Road Access, the Smith River’s newest river access point, which opened in September, 2010. Solutia Performance Films granted easements for the access and for an adjacent 500-foot-long trail. Plant manager Joe Stultz says, “This is our way of giving back to the community.”
Participants in the outing are asked to meet at 10:00 at the Bassett Canoe Access. They should arrange to supply boat, paddles, life jackets, water and lunch; wear water-shedding artificial fabric or wool (not cotton, and certainly not blue jeans); and provide a back-up change of clothing. Since the river may be shallow in places, wear shoes appropriate for wading. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver.

Directions: From US 220 north of Martinsville, take the VA 57 West/Fairystone Park Highway exit towards Stanleytown/Bassett. After about 3.4 miles, turn left at Fairystone Parkway/Lenoir Street. After about a mile, take the second right onto Lenoir Street/Trent Hill Drive. The Bassett Canoe Access will be on the left beside the factory building, at 271 Trent Hill Drive.

More Information: Charlie Williams, 336-337-8843, chawilliams59@yahoo.com

DRBA Annual Celebration March 5th

2011-02-22T21:18:00.000-05:00

Dan River Basin Association's Annual Celebration Saturday, March 5, will feature Philpott Lake as well as major elements of group's mission-preserving and promoting the region's rivers and culture through education, recreation and stewardship.

The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Henry Community Center in Henry.

After refreshments and time to view displays, the short business session will include recognition of exceptional volunteer service, election of board members, and staff reports on the association's extensive activities in Virginia and North Carolina during the past year, as well as a glimpse of the year ahead.

Featured as the celebration's speaker will be Craig "Rocky" Rockwell of Bassett. As operations project manager at nearby Philpott Lake, Rockwell is uniquely qualified to present a program on his topic-"Philpott Lake: Past, Present, and Future."

Nestled in the rugged foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the juncture of Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties, Philpott Lake is described as "a scenic wonderland."

The 3000-acre lake, created when Philpott Dam was completed on the Smith River in 1952, was built to control flooding, generate hydroelectric power, and provide recreational opportunities on the water and along its 110 miles of shoreline. Boating accesses, camping and picnic areas, and hiking trails are among the amenities provided alongside the lake.

Among the most popular is the Jamison Mill Park, named for a three-story gristmill built in the late 1880s and operated until about 1950.

Hazel Via Hale, granddaughter of Robert Carter, the miller at Jamison Mill for over 50 years, is author of "Memories: Jamison Mill Era."

According to Hale, until the mill was demolished for the lake, it was a gathering place for the whole community where people came for miles to have corn ground into meal.

Nowadays, another community group comes from miles around to the Jamison Mill area: the Friends of Philpott, who have put in many volunteer hours building and maintaining trails at Jamison Mill Park.

Organized in 2007, Friends of Philpott has the mission to provide environmentally responsible use, development and protection of the natural and recreational resources at Philpott Lake through community involvement and education.

Friends of Philpott will join Dan River Basin Association volunteers in providing hospitality and refreshments for the celebration.

Members and guests will hear reports from the association's staff, including Brian Williams from Dan River Basin's Virginia office in Collinsville; acting executive director Jenny Edwards from the Eden, N.C. headquarters office; Dale Swanson from the Stokes Field Office in Danbury, N.C.; and Chad Hall, North Carolina program manager, whose office is in Yanceyville, N.C.

Following the meeting and a picnic lunch provided by each participant, members and guests will carpool to the newly extended Jamison Mill Trail, about six miles away.

Coordinators for the 2.5-mile hike will be Linda Drage of Friends of Philpott and Mary Lawson of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers staff, who can tell about the history of the mill, development of the trail, and interesting natural features of the site.

Participants are asked to bring a picnic lunch to be eaten at the community center. Those joining in the after-lunch hike should wear hiking boots or walking shoes and dress in layers.

To reach Henry Community Center, 5241 Henry Road, Henry, VA_(36.842172,-80.024966), drive on US 220 north of Martinsville for about seven miles past the traffic light at Bassett Forks. Turn left on Henry Road (Route 605). Drive about eight miles to the Henry Community Center, also housing the volunteer fire department, on the right.

Meetings and outings of the Dan River Basin Association are free and open to the public.

For information about the celebration or the hike, contact Wayne Kirkpatrick at 276-694-4449 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 276-694-4449 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or wynbtyk@embarqmail.com.

Membership information is available at www.danriver.org.

Blue Ridge Ski & Outing Club - Gravely Hike

2010-12-14T13:14:00.003-05:00

On November 6th, 15 people (and one dog!) enjoyed a Blue Ridge Ski and Outing Club hike at the Gravely Nature Preserve, Henry County’s first and, at present, only interpretative park. The 75-acre Preserve is a part of the Smith River Trails system which includes multiuse trails, riverside parks, and boating access points at intervals along the entire river through Henry County and into North Carolina, where the Smith converges with the Dan River.
The group started the hike on the Jones Cliff Trail that follows a ridge 200 feet above the Smith River going by a century old tobacco barn and passing through a mature hardwood forest.

Then they split off from that trail to descend on the Rhododendron Trail to the Smith River and walk beside the chattering river rapids through a tunnel like canopy of rhododendrons. They ascended on the other end to rejoin the Jones Cliff Trail and visit the Burgess Family Cemetery dating back to the 1800’s. It was a lovely sunny day for our 2-mile adventure.
The club plans to return in the spring when the rhododendron is in bloom!

Tis the Season for Trout

2010-12-13T01:46:00.003-05:00

The first week in December is an exciting time in our region. Students across the Smith River Valley have anxiously awaited the arrival of a special package that heralds the beginning of a new season. They arrive as small wet bundles wrapped in cheesecloth containing hundreds of tiny pink eggs. The deliveries to schools across the area mark the beginning of another season of Trout in the Classroom. Over the next six months, students in local area schools will take on the responsibility of caring for these brown trout as they hatch and grow into fingerlings for release into our local rivers.

The Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program started in 2005 and this year marks the beginning of the sixth season for what has become one of Virginia’s top watershed education programs. The brown trout eggs that were picked up last Friday are provided by The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) from the state hatchery at Wytheville, VA. Butch Bates, hatchery manger welcomes TIC coordinators across the state and has been instrumental in the support of the program since 2006.

This award-wining program was originally conceived by Trout Unlimited over 20 years ago but was first introduced to Virginia classrooms by Dr. David Jones, a Martinsville area Orthodontist and has become an institution here in Southwest Virginia as one of the largest single TIC programs in the country.

TIC staff and volunteers make the trip across 3 counties and back to pick up thousands of trout eggs and deliver them to schools participating in the program. These eggs are just the beginning and students and teachers will be raising the trout throughout the school year as they hatch from the fragile eggs and grow into healthy young trout under their watchful care. The trout eggs are delivered to classrooms usually around the first week in December.

Dr. Jones, Brian Williams of the Dan River Basin Association and volunteer TIC helpers have been making the journey to the hatchery each year and according to Brian, “It’s great way to kick off the start of each season. The students are always excited when we arrive with eggs and you can see that it really sparks an interest in learning about the trout. It’s amazing when you think how many kids have been through the program here in our region and now it has grown to 140 tanks across the state from Richmond on through to the Blueridge.”

This year, Brian and TIC volunteer Lisa Hall, a local dental hygienist and member of Smith River Trout Unlimited, made the journey to Wytheville to pick up the eggs. This is volunteer Hall’s first year helping with the program. “Wow, this program is incredible and the trip to the hatchery was a fantastic experience. We saw the huge parent trout that provided the eggs for this year and delivering to schools was very exciting…the kids are really excited to get their eggs, “ said Lisa.

TIC could not be possible without the help of the VDGIF and Butch Bates, hatchery manager at Wytheville according to Brian Williams. “Butch has really made a difference in the program and has been extremely helpful with his knowledge of rearing trout fry.

“I love it !, says Butch. “ With just a small investment of time we can provide these eggs that help thousands of students learn about their local watersheds and why clean water is important to the health of our rivers” We raise a lot of fish for our stocking program but TIC is one way we can really make an impact on so many kids with so little effort, its great!” The eggs should be hatching just before Christmas break and will remain in the baskets for about 3 weeks. Trout need cold, clean water to survive and one of the major lessons the student learn is how a healthy stream has lots of food for trout and clean water.

Egg deliveries to Henry, Franklin and Pittsylvania school began on Friday with each school receiving a bundle of 200-250 eggs. “The program has grown to over 30 tanks in four counties and with so many schools in the program now, we don’t even make it to them all in one day and some eggs are held in tanks and delivered in the next week, “ according to Brian. Wayne Kirpatrick, president of the Dan River basin Association and Rozina Turner of Woolwine Elementary, will be picking up and delivering eggs for all Patrick County Schools on December 14^th. Patrick County has the distinction of having a trout tank in every one of its schools this year.

Across the country, Trout in the Classroom programs are sponsored by local organizations and funded locally as well. The Martinsville / Henry County TIC program continues to be supported by the resources from the Harvest Foundation, Dr. David Jones, the Dan River Basin Association staff and volunteers, and local civic organizations.

The real dedication comes from the teachers and students as they are responsible for the care, feeding and eventual release of trout into the Smith and Dan Rivers.

According to David Jones, “The teachers and students are the heroes of this program and the key to its success. With their support, dedication and love for the program we are beginning to see the results.

Students are learning about our local rivers and beginning to understand the importance of water quality and how it impacts to quality of life and even our economy. We have also see amazing results in attendance and learning and development in classrooms exposed to this program.”

An avid fly fisherman and strong conservationist, Lisa Hall has seen the program in action and is anxious to help students and teachers this year. “What a great way to start the holiday season…all I want for Christmas is hatching trout !”

For more information on the local program visit:

http://www.danriver.org/Education/TroutClassroom.htm

For information on Trout Unlimited and the national Trout in the Classroom Program visit:

http://www.troutintheclassroom.org

Podcast - Nick Long talks with VDOF forester, Andrew Brown

2010-11-05T13:57:00.008-04:00

Listen to this episode
Nick Long, General Manager of WHLF 95.3 in South Boston Virginia, talks with Andrew Brown, Forester, Virginia Department of Forestry, about sustainable forestry practices that help landowners protect their land, gain top dollar for their trees (if they wish to timber), and protect clean drinking water---all at the same time. For instance, by using a consulting forester, landowners are more likely to get more for their timber and keep their land from washing down stream; stop pollution from getting into rivers; and provide wildlife habitat. Sound forestry practices make good economic sense. This podcast make possible with support from DRBA members, WHLF 95.3, Virginia Environmental Endowment, and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. This project also received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency's 319 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant Program at the Virginia Department of Conservation (DCR), via grant number 319-2008-14-SR.

Fall Paddle and Hike on the Dan

2010-11-02T17:03:00.000-04:00

Fall is the perfect time to be on the riverGet out there and enjoy the scenery and the cool weather
For now, enjoy this short video from Andy and Barbara Parker
A paddle and a hike at Hanging Rock

Fall on the Dick and Willie Passage

2010-11-02T16:43:00.000-04:00

The weather is turning cooler and it is the perfect time to get out on area trails !

The newest offering in Henry County is the scenic Dick and Willie Passage. Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage while walking or biking the 4.5 mile paved trail along the historic Danville & Western Railroad.

Mile 0 is the Virginia Avenue trailhead and the 4.5 mile mark is reached at the current end of the trails (for now) over Mulberry Creek.

The trail is open from dawn to dusk and can be accessed from five different trailheads with parking and restroom facilities

1094 Virginia Avenue
699 Liberty Street
Depot Street
220 Doyle Street
815 Fisher Street

Visitors and residents may borrow a bicycle and helmet to use on the trail for free through the Bike MHC program. Bike MHC is held at the Doyle Street trailhead. Contact Activate MHC at 276-403-5086 for more information about this service.

Tuesday 10 am to 2 pm
Thursday 3 pm to 6 pm
1st, 4th and 5th Saturday 8 am to 12 noon
2nd and 3rd Saturday 10:30 am to 1 noon

Canoe Rental Program at Beaver Creek Reservoir

2010-10-12T09:14:00.004-04:00

Martinsville Parks and Recreation will start renting Canoes at Beaver Creek Reservoir for $30 a day plus a $10 deposit, which is refundable after key, paddles, and life jackets are returned to Main Office at 746 B Indian Trail. The public must come to the Main Office to fill out a short waiver and be sized up for paddles and life jackets which will be at this particular location. (Participates are required to wear their life jackets at all times while paddling on the Lake). Then the person will receive a key specific to the canoe rented, e.g., numbers 1-8. Canoes are “only” allowed to be put in at the Reservoir Lake and returned back to the canoe rack which is stationary at Beaver Creek Reservoir and locked back into position. For more information on MPR’s new Canoe Rental Program, call our office at 276-403-5140.

Submitted by: Gary Cody

Dick & Willie Passage Dedication Ceremony

2010-10-04T14:04:00.010-04:00

You are cordially invited

to the Dedication Ceremony

for the "Dick & Willie Trail".

The event is scheduled for Monday, October 11, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. at the

Liberty Street trail head (intersection of Liberty Street and Stultz Road)

Please join us as we unveil this 4.5 mile walking and biking trail and celebrate all parties that played a role in putting it together.

Please join us!

Contributed by:

Jeannie Frisco

Activate Program Director

http://www.getactivemhc.org/

“October Philpott Lake Shoreline Clean-Up Planned”

2010-09-29T12:49:00.008-04:00

Philpott Lake is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled recreational lakes in the State of Virginia. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the non-profit group, Friends of Philpott are organizing a shoreline clean-up for Saturday, October 9, 2010 and would like to invite volunteers to assist with the clean-up.

Volunteers with all types of boats and watercraft are invited to assist with the clean-up. Groups that do not have access to boats are encouraged to walk some of the trails that skirt the shoreline and pick up litter along the trails.

Participants will be able to launch their craft for free on the day of the clean-up and will receive a coupon which is good for another free launch from any boat ramp surrounding the lake. In addition, they will receive a small gift and refreshments before the event starts.

Volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate in this National Public Lands Day event. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers will provide the bags needed to collect the litter.

Volunteer are asked to dress in appropriate clothing, to bring gloves and life jackets. All volunteers are asked to meet at 8:30 A.M. at the picnic shelter located at the lookout near the visitor’s center at 1058 Philpott Dam Road in Bassett Virginia.

All participants will meet at the shelter to sign up for the event, receive their gifts and receive instructions. Areas have been identified for the clean up and participants will disburse to launch their boats and head out to the targeted areas. The clean up will conclude at 1 P.ME. and all the bags of trash and debris will be transported back to the boat ramps.

Philpott Lake is an asset to the area and the surrounding counties. Visitors come to enjoy the unspoiled mountain expanses, serene beauty and it is an outstanding recreational destination. “We encourage you to volunteer your time and enjoy this national environmental event.” The event will be held rain or shine. Please contact Mary Lawson with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 276-629-4512, ext. 227 or Lois Christensen with Friends of Philpott at 276-638-3207 for further information.

Contributed by: Linda Drage

Marrowbone Creek to Mitchel Bridge float on 9/4/10

2010-08-31T09:52:00.000-04:00

On September 4 DRBA will celebrate Labor Day weekend with a float on the most popular section of the Smith River-Marrowbone Creek Access to Mitchell Bridge Access in Henry County, VA. Meeting at 10:00 a. m. at the Richard P. Gravely, Jr. Nature Preserve, 2525 Eggleston Falls Road in Ridgeway, Virginia (36.611067, -79.817712), the group will launch canoes and kayaks at the nearby access point.

The 3.5-mile "blueway" Smith River Trails section, rated Class 1, is suitable for novice paddlers. Trip coordinator is Wayne Kirkpatrick, DRBA President, aided by other DRBA members who frequent this section of the river.

For the first half mile of the trip, the river flows alongside the Gravely Nature Preserve's high bluffs where paddlers can glimpse the Rhododendron Trail. As the name implies, the path winds through a rhododendron thicket as it hugs the river's edge.

About a mile farther on, Leatherwood Creek enters from river left. Paddlers often enter the wide mouth of the creek and take a leisurely side trip up the shaded stream to observe woodland wildflowers and birds. Early American patriot Patrick Henry, for whom both Patrick and Henry counties are named, lived on a large plantation near the headwaters of Leatherwood Creek from 1779 - 1786.

Just below the mouth of Leatherwood Creek is a broad rounded boulder in the middle of the river. Known as "Lunch Rock," it makes "a perfect spot to stop for a break," according to "An Insider's Guide to the Smith River," available at www.danriver.org .

Henry County, in partnership with DRBA, has made the Smith River accessible to the public over the past three years by building public access points at eight new sites along the river, including the Marrowbone Creek Access, which opened in 2007, and Mitchell Bridge Access, built in 2009.

Participants are invited to linger after the outing to enjoy the Gravely Nature Preserve, part of the county's "greenway" Smith River Trail system, which was dedicated in April, 2008. Developed by DRBA and Henry County, with funding from The Harvest Foundation, the 75-acre preserve features two miles of interpretive trails. Historic features include early twentieth-century tobacco barns and the Burgess Family cemetery, reminders of former owners of the property.

Industrialist, civic leader, and archaeologist Richard P. Gravely, Jr. owned the property in the late twentieth century and left instructions for its preservation as a wildlife and nature conservancy. The preserve now hosts frequent educational and recreational events for all ages, including day camps, fitness walks, historic presentations, workshops, after-school programs, and geo-caching.

Participants in the outing are asked to bring boat and paddles, life jackets, lunch and water, to dress in layers of artificial (quick-drying) fabric and to sign a waiver.

Boats may be rented from Three Rivers Outfitters, 336-627-6215
www.3-R-O.com
or
Smith River Adventure Outfitters, 276-252-0701
http://www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com/

Directions: To reach the Gravely Nature Preserve from US 220 south of Martinsville, turn east at a traffic light onto Old Sand Road. Cross the US 58 overpass and immediately turn left onto Eggleston Falls Road. Travel about two miles to the preserve, which is on the left, across from the foot of Old Mill Road.

More information: Wayne Kirkpatrick, 276-694-4449 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 276-694-4449 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or wynbtyk@embarqmail.com

Smith River Clean-up August 2010

2010-08-22T17:31:00.004-04:00

The Smith River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SRTU) teamed up with the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) on Saturday August 21 to make a difference on the Smith by cleaning up of a section of river from the Trent Hill bridge through the Horseshoe section and down to the Bassett Historic Center.

It was an incredible turn-out with over 40 people attending including 16 volunteers from Skyline Tree Service, several Boy Scouts from a local troop, Eric Capps of Gateway Streetscapes, and many DRBA and SRTU members.

Everyone met at the Bassett Canoes Access ramp at 8:30am to split up into teams before we hit the river. Many folks brought waders and at least 4 canoes and 1 jon boat were put on the river to haul trash. Some elected to stay dry and they became the road crews to pick up all that trash on the surrounding roads before it manged to make it down the storm drains and into the river.

It was just fantastic to see so many river users and community members coming together to help make preserve and protect our water quality.

I was somewhat surprised to see Skyline Tree Service crew show up but I shouldn't have been as they are always a big supporter of all the river clean-ups and they were out in force today.

Together with a group of boy scouts, Ellen and Joe Jesse and Eric Capps, they had Lenoir street cleaned in no time flat. Like a hungry pack of wolves they didn't stop there and just crossed the bridge and headed back up Fairystone Pkwy through town to the Trent Hill Dr at Pappas Pizza. They were ready for more so we sent them over to Wells Hollow Rd and they really did a great job near Lauren Mountain Preserve.

DRBA president, Wayne Kirkpatrick and his wife Betty headed upstream from the access ramp and had a canoe full in less than an hour

We had 2 crews working on the roads and 3 crews in the river.

Its hard to believe that much trash came out of the river in only 1.5 miles

President of SRTU, Shane Pinkston and volunteer Joan Ragland stayed behind to man the base camp and start preparing for the cookout. We were so busy no one had time to go to the store to get food but Patty Williams saved the day by picking up hotdogs, hamburgers, drinks and chips. Shane was nominated cook for the day and quickly set about preparing food as the teams came in with their respective hauls of trash.

We took my flatbed trailer around picking up the bagged trash and the debris from the canoes.

Once we had it all back at the access ramp in one big pile, we set about gathering canoes and crews. Everyone was just about beat but still had enough energy to slam down some tasty burgers and dogs.

We were ecstatic with the turn out and thrilled to be able to clean up over a mile and a half of river from the Bassett canoe access all the way down to the Bassett Historic Center.

Its not only important to get this trash out of the river to improve the health of the stream and wildlife habitat but also for cleaner water for the community. The ascetics of the river are greatly improved byt removal of all the trash and that translates into dollars for our economy in the form of economic development. We want people to come to our community, get out there and fish, paddle and enjoy the river and we want to them to leave having seen the best of the Smith, clean and green !

This is the best advertising of all for our area and keeping it clean is the name of the game.
Specia thanks to Darrin Doss and Al Kitterage and a the SRTU members.

Next weekend is the third annual Smith River fest and there will be paddlers from all over, even as far away as Richmond and they will be utilizing the river mainly in this area. Having folks come to our area, maybe for the first time and experience the beauty of our area and a clean river, means they have a great experience and go back and spread the word about the incredible natural resource we have to offer here in Henry County.

Basset Community Market Opens

2010-07-19T18:09:00.001-04:00

The Historic Train Depot in downtown Bassett is seeing new life as adaptive reuse has come in the form of a Community Market.

Currently open on Thursdays, the market is open courtesy fo Bassett Industries and the local Ruitan clubs who host local farmers providing fresh produce. Lunch and music can also be enjoyed during your trip to the market. Come on out and get your fresh veggies and support our local farmers!

2010-07-13T23:52:00.000-04:00

The new canoe access ramp at Soulutia (CPFilms) is nearly completeThis is going to be one of our nicer access points and it’s like a mini park complete with trail and easy access.

The ramp is located off The Great Road in Stanleytown, strategically situated between the upstream access at Bassett and the next downstream access at Fieldale.

An extremely easy entry into the water, the ramp creates a nice access at low water and a good eddy for times of full generation. A picnic table at the access is a great place to have lunch or walk the trail downstream to another quiet location complete with picnic table and view of the river.

Friends Of Philpott announce "Adopt-A-Park"

2010-07-13T14:04:00.003-04:00

Maybe there is a special place you went as a child to on Philpott lake as a child. Perhaps there is a spot you now take your kids to enjoy the beauty of lake ?

Now is the time to Adopt the park of your choice and become a Friends of Philpott Lake member
Pick a park that holds that special place and help preserve it for future generations.

The Friends of Philpott (FOP) announces the formation of the Adopt-a-Park Program.
Come to the neat membership meeting to find out details.

Next Meeting:
Tuesday, July 13^th, 7 pm at the Visitors Center at Philpott Dam overlook
We need participation from the Henry County on this side of the Lake.

For more information contact:
Linda Drage
ldrage@comcast.net

Skate Park Benefit Fundraiser

2010-07-13T13:55:00.006-04:00

Come out and enjoy good music and lots of entertainent for the Whole Family!!!

July 24th 5-10pm

Hooker Field $5 - entry fee

5 Live Bands!!!
Moon Bounce - Climbing Wall Water Games for Children on the Field

Full Concession - Much more....

Call Martinsville Parks & Recreation for more info on event - 403-5140

All proceeds going toward Future Skate Park in Martinsville - Henry Co. to be located in J. Frank Wilson Park

http://www.goingbig.org/

Rain Date!!! Sunday, July 25th 4-9pm

Sponsored by : Martinsville Mustangs

Submitted by Gary Cody

Bug Hunt on the Smith with MHC After 3

2010-07-11T11:49:00.001-04:00

The newest canoe access ramp on the Smith River at Great Road was descended upon by 28 kids from the Martinsville / Henry County "After 3 Program". They were here on a hot July morning to learn about water quality and the creatures that live in the Smith River, in particular the macro-invertebrates.

Robin Jensen of the Virginia Museum of Natural History and Brian Williams of DRBA had teamed up to teach the kids about the aquatic environment in the Smith River and how water quality and the health of the river can be monitored by the number and variety of macro invertebrates found there.

But first, they had to learn how to catch the "bugs" from the river and learn to identify them. Some were hesitant to enter the water but as the temps climbed, they came to the conclusion that on a hot day the 56 degree water temps were a welcome relief from the heat.

Upon arriving at the site the famous Smith River mist was hanging over the river but was quickly burned away as the temperatures climbed toward the 90's.

The students learned how to use the seine nets to catch the stoneflys, mayflys, crayfish and helgramites that live under the rocks on the bottom of the stream.

Soon they were even using thier smaller nets and working together in teams to catch crayfish and other benthic macro invertebrates that call the Smith home.

Then students then got a chance to view all they had captured up close and using field guides they learned how to identify the variety of aquatic insects and crustaceans..

Quite a few crayfish were discovered and the observant students noticed a large

female caring her eggs under her tail

After returning all the critters to the river, they all had a chance to get out and cool off in the refreshing waters of the Smith before returning to the Museum

Some were still searching for macros as others explored upstream in the deeper waters.

The best learning experiences are when you don't even realize you are learning. Its always fun and amazing to watch a group experiencing the river and gaining an appreciation for the natural resources that everyone must work together to protect. They come away with a better understanding of a delicate ecosystem and the interactions of water quality and aquatic life.... but to them its just fun day on the beating the heat on the river !

Dan River Sojourn 2011

2010-07-10T15:49:00.000-04:00

Good friends, great stories, fantastic history and 22 miles
of the Beautiful Dan River!

Be part of the journey, the inaugural

Dan River Sojourn 2011

Join us for two days of paddling, two nights of camping -- the first of an annual event journeying down the Dan River!

Come for a day, come for a weekend. . . Great food and music each night

If you can't paddle, sign up to join us on the river for dinner!

May 20 -- 22, 2011

Additional information available online at

www.danriversojourn.com

Don't delay! Do it today!

This 22-mile trip takes you through a Triassic basin where history is written in and on the landscape. From the days of the dinosaurs to Native Americans to our own imprint shown in nineteenth century commercial navigation, you will see and touch it all during this two-day adventure.

Assemble at Lindsay Bridge in Madison, NC by 5:00 pm on Friday, July 16, to unload camping and paddling gear. Shuttle to Settles Bridge and/or Eden is at 6:00 pm. Anticipated return to the Lindsey Bridge campsite is 7:00 pm. Each day's paddle adventure will begin at 9:00 am and conclude by 5:00 pm. Enjoy special programs highlighting the history of the Dan River region and related topics.

Limited to 100 participants, so reserve your spot early!

The Sojourn's trail includes of the nation's best-preserved nineteenth-century batteau navigation systems used to channel commercial traffic into backcountry North Carolina. Click on maps 57 through 47 of the Dan River Guide, Key Map 2 to see the trail. Each map highlights important navigation tips and details of that section of the river along with photos, history, interesting facts and more.

You can also order your own waterproof, travel-size copy of An Insiders Guide to the Dan River Basin in North Carolina and Viginia.

Two Payment Options

* Mail a check along with your completed registration form or
* Pay online (buttons below link to Pay Pal interface-SEE NOTE BELOW!)

NOTE: To make sure we understand WHO the participant(s) is/are, please click on the Message to Merchant option in Pay Pal and include ALL the name(s) of your PARTICPANT/paddlers, since they may be different than the name of the payer on Pay Pal.

Pricing (per person) (If you are paying for more than one person please make sure you adjust the shopping cart quantities.)

$25.00 – Friday: Evening meal and overnight camping only; does not include any meals/activities on next day.

$60.00 – Saturday: Three meals, programs, gear handling, overnight camping, T-shirt & shuttle

$60.00 – Sunday: Two meals, program, gear handling, T-shirt & shuttle

Package deal $130 – Full trip, camping two nights, six meals, programs, gear handling, T-shirt & shuttle

$65.00 paddle through for children 8 - 12 attending with a full fee adult guardian

Guest meals are $10.00 each for breakfast & lunch; $20.00 dinner
(Don't forget to adjust the shopping cart quantities to equal all meals requested)

Breakfast Guest Meal $10.00
Lunch Guest Meal $10.00
Dinner Guest Meal $20.00

Dan River Sojourn 2010 T-shirts featuring the colorful design shown at top of page are provided as part of the Saturday, Sunday and Package deals. Others may buy the T-shirts at the event.

Read the Sojourn 2010 liability waiver.

Call Wayne Kirkpatrick at 276.694.4449 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 276.694.4449 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
or email
danriversojourn@gmail.com
for more information.

Reserve your place on this first-time adventure TODAY!

Paddle Lake Talbott on Saturday

2010-07-01T02:51:00.000-04:00

DRBA to Paddle Lake Talbott near Meadows of Dan

Out-and-back paddle on Lake Talbott near Meadows of Dan, VA Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Poor Farmers Market, 2616 Jeb Stuart Highway, Meadows of Dan, VA. GPS: 36.73541, -80.40978. Dress in layers of synthetic fabric, and bring boat, paddles, life jackets,lunch and water. Free and open to the public.

Contact: Charlie Williams

Phone: 336-337-8843

Email: chawilliams59@yahoo.com

Need a boat ? Contact one of our local outfitters:

http://www.3-r-o.com/

(336)627-6215

http://www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com/

(276)252-0701

Kids Fun Day 2010

2010-06-29T13:24:00.010-04:00

Kids Fun Day at Philpott Lake Was Fun in the Sun (Shade) for Kids & Parents
Jamison Mill Park - More than 85 kids attended and enjoyed games; like corn hole and water blooms toss, painted butterfly crafts, rode on a miniature train cars pulled by a lawn tracker, learned bike safety from Philpott Park Rangers (adults & kids), and got up close with Tactfully Teamed Horses. The kids got to pet Lenny the Barn Owl and Robb Herbst's new Falcon, Stif. As a grand finally; they played in the creek. They had fake tattoos on arms and faces; even on a few grandmas. The adults enjoyed their selves too. Overall there were around 285 attending including the kids.

The Philpott Lake Rangers Curtis Brooks and Richard Wigley presented two bikes that the Friends of Philpott, Inc. had donated earlier this month at Goosepoint and Salthouse Branch parks during their Bike Safety Training. At the last Bicycle Safety Training at Salthouse Branch, Travis Pagans won a bike and presented it to a little girl who said she didn’t have a bike and was hoping to win. The bike Travis won was a girls bike and he could have gave it to his mom and have her sell it and give him the money, (after all, he was a teenage boy), but instead without hesitation he walked the bike directly over to the little girl and gave it to her.
A member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Martinsville picked up a bike like new at her church’s yard sale and gave it to the Rangers to give to Travis to show him that his good deed would not go unrewarded. The Rangers fixed it up as best they could and presented it to Travis at the Kids Fun Day.
It was a good day for all watching Travis ride back and forward on his bike (by the way, Travis didn’t have a bike of his own).

Pictured above are: Ranger Richard Wigley, Travis Pagans and Ranger Curtis Brooks

All the smiles on all the faces of the kids, the parents and all that worked that day, and the new friends we made; old friends who came together to share a Very Special Day in the Sun was great. Sponsored by Friends of Philpott, Inc. www.FriendsOfPhilpott.com.

Contributed by: Linda Drage

Paving begins on the D&W

2010-06-29T11:45:00.000-04:00

News flash - a portion of the Dick & Willie is being paved! They have started at the eastern most end of trail and have reached Church Street. They will be paving the parking lot at Prillaman Chemical tomorrow.

Sammy and Steven of J.C. Joyce Paving doing a little late afternoon rolling after it cools down a bit.

story and photos submitted by:
Ellen J. Jessee

Celebrate Activate!

2010-06-04T15:23:00.008-04:00

Meet your fellow community members and friends on the Uptown Spur Trail at 12:00 noon on Thursday, June 17^th . Later that day, there will be a community celebration held at Spencer Penn Centre from 5 to 7p.m. Located in the center of historic UpTown Martinsville, the Uptown Spur Trail is a lovely paved trail--perfect for biking, walking or running. At 0.6 mile in length, the trail will eventually serve as an access point to the 4.5 Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail. Everyone is encouraged to attend these free events. Need more info? Call 276-403-5087.

Dan River Sojourn!

2010-06-03T14:43:00.002-04:00

Join fellow paddlers on a fascinating passage through time down the Dan River.

This 22-mile trip takes you through a Triassic basin where history is written in and on the landscape. From the days of the dinosaurs to Native Americans to our own imprint shown in nineteenth century commercial navigation, you will see and touch it all during this two-day adventure.

Assemble at Lindsay Bridge in Madison, NC by 5:00 pm on Friday, July 16, to unload camping and paddling gear. Shuttle to Settles Bridge and/or Eden is at 6:00 pm. Anticipated return to the Lindsey Bridge campsite is 7:00 pm. Each day's paddle adventure will begin at 9:00 am and conclude by 5:00 pm. Enjoy special programs highlighting the history of the Dan River region and related topics.

Limited to 100 participants, so reserve your spot early!

Registration Deadline is July 1

Get on the River !

2010-06-01T19:41:00.002-04:00

Looking for a chance to get on the water and learn some new skills ?
Completely new to paddling?
Not to worry, there are opportunities
for everyone on the Smith River !

Guided Trips & Lesson

Presented in partnership with Smith River Outfitters

and Martinsville Parks and Recreation

SMITH RIVER FAMILY FUN FLOATS

May 31^st, June 26^th, July 24^th, Aug 28^th (all floats are 1-4 p.m.)

Join us for a fun and relaxing day on the Smith River. Whether you’ve never been in a canoe or kayak before or have been doing it all your life, you can be sure this trip will be fun and exciting. Space is limited so please sign up. Cost for Rentals with all equipment: $45 per boat for canoes (two people) and $35 for single kayaks. Cost of a shuttle for those with own equipment $10.

Overnight River Float

Aug 14^th @ 1 p.m. to Aug 15th@ 12 p.m.

Paddle from the South Martinsville river access to the Smith River Sports Complex river access on Saturday. Your camping gear will be shuttled by the Martinsville Parks and Recreation Department to the Sports complex where dinner will be provided along with a campfire that evening. We will camp there and have breakfast provided by Martinsville Parks and Recreation the next day then continue paddling to the Mitchell Bridge on Sunday.

$45 per person.

BEGINNER KAYAK CLASS

June 19^th , July 10^th , Aug 7^th (all classes are 1-4 p.m.)

Join instructor Eric Juday from the American Canoe Association (ACA) to learn the basics of kayaking. In this workshop students are given an introduction to kayaking and presented with equipment and skills. No experience needed and all equipment is provided. Classes will be held at the South Martinsville river access and Doe Run Park. $35 per person.

INTERMEDIATE KAKAK CLASS

June 20^th , July 11^th (all classes are 1-4 p.m.)

Learn paddling techniques for maneuvering on Class II rivers as we paddle from the South Martinsville river access to the Smith River Sports Complex river access. Some prior experience required. $45 per person; boat rentals are an additional $20.

Space is limited!

Contact us to register or for more information and ask about our group discounts:

276-252-0701

www.smithriveradventureoutfitters.com

live2pdl@yahoo.com

Smith River Mini-Triathlon-June 5th

2010-05-27T22:56:00.000-04:00

DO IT FOR FITNESS, DO IT FOR FUN, DO IT SOLO, DO IT AS A TEAM....BUT JUST DO IT!

Run: 1.2 miles along the beautiful Smith River

Paddle: 1.2 miles on the Smith River's class I rapids. Bike: 2.5 miles on the trail

Awards for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place finishers. All pre-registered participants receive a T-shirt. Classes: Solo-Youth, Male, & Female. Team-All Male, All Female, Coed different age increments. Call 403-5140 for more inf. Registration brochures are online at www.martinsville-va.gov/Parks-and-Recreation.html or call us for a registration brochure.

DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 5, Registration and check in 9am-9:45am. Race starts at 10am
11:15am-Awards ceremony at Trailhead
LOCATION: Fieldale Trail Head, (Off River Rd., Fieldale, VA)
FEE: $15 per participant, $20 fee day of the event Kayaks & Canoes available to rent - $15 - Smith River Outfitters, Must reserve by calling 252-0701 & they will be onsite. Click here for REGISTRATION BROCHURE

Charlie Poole Festival and Float

2010-05-19T15:55:00.000-04:00

(Eden, NC) – The folks who come to the Fifteenth Anniversary Charlie Poole Music Festival, June 11-13, will have a surprise extra treat all ready for them. On Saturday morning they will have the opportunity to enjoy a float down a stretch of the beautiful unspoiled Smith and Dan Rivers, and still not miss any of the festival.
This special outing, beginning at 9 AM Saturday morning with transport from the Fairgrounds, has been arranged through the Dan River Basin Association. The Director, Katherine Mull, gives the following description of the event as planned:

Charlie Poole River Ramble

The Charlie Poole River Ramble, a leisurely two hour float, will be guided by Three Rivers Outfitters. The trip begins on the scenic Smith River, near the historic 1892 Spray Mercantile Building where paddlers will hear the stories of this once-thriving textile town.
Internationally renowned banjo musician Charlie Poole worked here at Spray Cotton Mills. In July 1925 Poole and his North Carolina Ramblers made their first recording with Columbia Records. Their record was a smash hit and sold an unheard of number, more than 100,000 copies.
Also nearby is the historic 1898 Nantucket Mill. Piedmont Folk Legacies and the National Banjo Initiative envision a new life for the mill as a National Banjo Center, museum, recording studio and performance venue.
After putting on the river at Spray Cotton Mills, paddlers will float under Island Ford Bridge near Spray Circle and past the new Island Ford Landing at Eden’s Smith River Greenway. About a mile downstream, after passing under the Kings Highway Bridge, paddlers will come upon a large rock formation on river left known as Bear Slide, a state Natural Heritage Area recognized for rare communities of wild flowers.
Paddlers can expect to see June wildflowers, water fowl and perhaps even Eden’s mascot, a river otter.
Past Bear Slide, where the Smith joins the Dan River, paddlers will turn upstream a short distance to view the impressive remains of the 1852 Leaksville Toll Bridge. After floating down to the nationally famous arched Mebane Bridge, paddlers will take out at the NC Wildlife Access on the Dan River where all will be shuttled back to the Charlie Poole Festival in time for lunch at the fairgrounds.
The Saturday morning expedition includes the boat rental and guide, transport to and from the Fairgrounds, a light breakfast, refreshments on the trip, and a voucher for lunch, all for $50 inclusive of the whole festival, Friday evening through Sunday morning. Space will be limited, so sign up early, on line, or just send your check to P.O. Box 867, Eden, NC 27289.
As usual, admission to the festival only is $15 for Friday evening or the Saturday afternoon and evening competition, or $25 for the whole weekend. Sunday morning activities are to be announced.
Basic camping is available, with bathrooms and showers, at a charge of $10 per night, $20 maximum, and campers will be welcome any time during the week preceding the festival. A group of 6 family and friends can get a weekend pass on line for $100, a substantial saving. Festival tickets and tickets for the River Ramble will be available on line, the latter to be limited in number– first come, first served.
A “Little Ramblers” children’s area, sponsored by Sheetz, will be another new addition. Food and other vendors will be on-site for the festival. Schedules and other information will be posted soon at www.charlie-poole.com. For further information call 336-623-1043.
This project receives support from the Rockingham County Arts Council and the NC Arts Council, an agency of the NC Department of Cultural Resources.

Enviro Expo at Philpot

2010-04-18T10:26:00.000-04:00

You can count on the month of April for beautiful wildflowers, great trout fishing and the Environmental Expo at Philpott Lake. Hosted each year by the Friends of Philpott and the Army Corps of Engineers, the expo kicks off Earth Week and showcases local non profit organizations, clubs and government agencies and their connection to preserving and promoting the areas natural resources.

The theme for this years event : "Be Water and Energy Wise."
FOP's own Linda Drage is the ringmaster for this event and once again she and her group pulled together a diverse selection of groups and agencies with environmental concerns and solutions.
Linda estimated crowd attendance at over 400 !
There was music, food and fun and a wonderful opportunity to learn about all the groups that are working to promote and protect our fabulous natural and cultural resources here in Southern Virginia.
Thanks to Friends and Phipott and the Army Corps of Engineers for hosting another great event !

Dan River Basin board member Ellen Jessee speaks with Danny Martin at the DRBA display

Al Kitterage and Darrin Doss demonstrate fly tying techniques at the Trout Unlimited Display. Darrin took a mayfly from the tub-o-bugs and put it in a petri dish alongside a pheasant tail nymph he had just tied to show how fly fishermen tie flies that mimic the aquatic insects in the stream.

We were fortunate to have Mary Dail and Mike Hutchins from the DEQ come down and partner with DRBA on the macro invertebrate display. They had an additional "Tub-O- Bugs" complete with water monitoring equipment set up to show the public how the recent water quality studies were conducted on the Smith River.

Mary Dail of DEQ explains how macro invertebrate populations are an indicator or water quality in our rivers and streams.

Some future environmentalist get a closer look at a Helgramite at DRBA's "Tub-O-Bugs"

My, they do grow up fast don't they ? Here's former DRBA staff member Jennifer Doss and with Hunter, who had a great time with the tub-o-bugs and all the animals at the expo !

Linda Drage Radio Interview

2010-04-14T12:50:00.000-04:00

Linda Drage, Friends of Philpott, will be the featured guest on DRBA's radio program tomorrow morning from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., streaming live online at http://www.wloewmyn.com. Also on the dial at am 1490 and am 1420.

She'll be discussing Friends of Philpott's 4th Annual Environmental Education Expo coming up this Saturday,as well as exciting plans for a state-of-the-art handicap accessible park at Philpott Lake slated for completion by next spring.

Linda has more than 35 years experience working with non-profits and represented five U.S. states and part of Canada as a member of the Board of Directors for Parents Without Partners. Currently, she is a member of a number of local organizations and serves as the Henry County President for Friends of Philpott (for which she is a founding member); Consulting Director for the Henry County Bike Club; and President of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Council.

Seeking Volunteer Coordinator

2010-04-13T09:46:00.000-04:00

____________________________________________

Do you have a passion for preserving and protecting local rivers, natural areas and cultural landscapes for future generations? The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) is seeking a dedicated volunteer to fill our Volunteer Coordinator position. This position will allow the right candidate to make a significant difference across the region.

The Volunteer Coordinator will work with DRBA staff to enlist volunteers and coordinate the activities of other community volunteers across the Dan River region in NC and Virginia. While this is a volunteer position, DRBA is offering a monthly stipend to help compensate for the volunteer’s mileage, cell phone use, and meal expenses. The Volunteer Coordinator will have access to office space, including a computer and internet. This highly visible position is ideal for someone who enjoys working as part of a team and who seeks to establish a track record, build a network, and make a measurable difference for the Dan River region.

Specific duties include working with the DRBA team to:

Coordinate recruitment, screening and training of DRBA volunteers;

Provide encouragement, feedback and support to volunteers;

Track volunteer hours and periodically evaluate volunteer performance;

Conduct regularly scheduled meetings with volunteers to foster teamwork;

Schedule volunteers for activities such as festivals, stream monitoring, children’s environmental education programs, and more;

Help coordinate and otherwise assist in media relations, including press releases.

Qualifications include:

Enjoy working with and motivating people of all ages

Interest in DRBA’s work in recreation, education and stewardship

Demonstrated leadership skills, enthusiasm and ability to inspire others;

Positive attitude and successful experience in working with people of all demographic groups;

Demonstrated team player, with commitment to the mission and values of the Dan River Basin Association;

Experience in Microsoft Office, Excel, internet and e-mail;

Valid driver’s license, ability to travel and volunteer during evenings and weekends as needed.

To Apply

Please e-mail letter of interest, three references and resume to drba.nc@danriver.org.

DRBA Gear Swap

2010-04-07T13:03:00.007-04:00

DRBA's Recreational Gear Swap

2010-04-03T22:48:00.000-04:00

April 10, 2010

DRBA's Recreational Gear Swap
Need some more room in your garage for more gear ? Got extra room for gear and you need to fill it up ? Then come on out this Saturday, April 10th to the Dan River Basin Associations 2nd annual gear swap and get prepped for the season. This years event will be held at from 10 am...till the gear is gone, at the Indian Heritage RV Park & Campground (Tensbury Drive. Martinsville) This is the location of the South Martinsville canoe access on the Smith River just below Martinsville Dam. Bring your outdoor gear,canoes, kayaks, bicycles, camping gear, fishing supplies, and more! Buy, sell , trade. Admission is free. The Gear Swap is a great way to pick up used gear for a bargain or sell gear you are ready to part with. Meet other paddlers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Come meet new friends, trade stories, and get a good deal on used equipment at DRBA’s Gear Swap! For more information contact the Dan River Basin Association at 276-634-2592 or bwilliams@danriver.org

Friends of Mayo River State Park Meeting

2010-04-03T22:47:00.000-04:00

Saturday April 10, 2010

FMRSP Meeting/Clean Up Day

Friends of Mayo River State Park (FMRSP) is a support group of citizens formed for the purposes of enhancing the growth and programming of Mayo River State Park, the new State Park opening in Mayodan, NC in the spring of 2010. We ask for your support in making this state park one of the best by joining our non-profit organization and helping us meet this challenge.

We invite you to come to our next group meeting at 10:00 am. Saturday April 10, 2010 at Mayo River State Park. The park is located on Business 220 North of Mayodan. We encourage you to become a member and participate in a park clean up project immediately after the meeting. Suggested items to bring are gloves, water, a snack, and sunscreen.

For any additional information you may contact FMRSP on Facebook or board member Pam Maynard at gocankay@yahoo.com. I would also suggest adding the FMRSP page to your Facebook, since this is our way of communicating upcoming events and updates/additions to the park.

This is a great opportunity for the public to come out and view for themselves the initial stages of the park, meet with the ranger/staff, ask questions and become a member of FMRSP.

Pam Maynard

FMRSP

Treasurer

Environmental Education Expo

2010-03-31T13:10:00.004-04:00

Friends of Philpott's 4th Environmental Educational Expo
Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 1-4:00 pm
Philpott Lake Visitor's Center in Bassett, VA

The Expo kicks off Earth Week and increases the educational impact of Earth Day with educational preparation, learning, and activities from area non-profits like DRBA, government agencies and some local businesses.

By participating you encourage youth and adults to make a difference in their schools, homes, communities and personal lives! The event is great for the whole family.

This years theme: Be Water and Energy Wise. Food, drinks and plant sale will be available for purchase from Friends of Philpott, Inc.

Mission: to provide environmentally responsible use, development, and protection of the natural and recreational resources at Philpott Lake through community involvement and education.

Submitted by: Linda Drage

DRBA's First Saturday Outing - April 3

2010-03-29T10:40:00.003-04:00

The Dan River Basin Association will explore a new portion of the Dan River in its First Saturday Outing .
The event involves an exploration of a 7-mile section of the Dan River from Pine Hall to Madison, NC.
This portion of the river moves across the Stokes/Rockingham County line three times, creating two large, horseshoe shaped bends. The Norfolk Southern Railroad parallels the river for much of the way.
Remnant of past river uses are found in remains of Amerindian fish dams, v-shaped stuctures used by both native and European inhabitants to collect fish on their annual spawning migrations that ended when large dams were constructed down-river in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Many of the navigation structures are hidden beneath sand and water backed up about three miles by the Lindsay Bridge Dam, where the float will conclude. About a mile before the dam, some of the rocks at Cross Rock Shoal and Fish Dam may be above water, with an opening on river right for easy pasage.
Those interested should meet at 10am at the Pine Hall Bridge on Pine Hall Road, Route 1908, to unload boats and gear and set the shuttle.
Participants should arrange to supply boat, paddles, life jackets, water and lunch; wear water-shedding artificial fabric or wool; and provide a back-up change of clothing.
All participants will be asked to sign a waiver.
For more information, call trip coordinator Mark Bishopric at 336-627-6215 or e-mail him at mbishopric@3-r-o.com

Dick and Wille Passage Groundbreaking

2010-03-25T21:06:00.002-04:00

Come out and celebrate with the Henry County Administration staff, DRBA representatives and Congressman Rick Boucher for groundbreaking on Martinsville / Henry County's latest trail,
the "Dick and Willie Passage."

The event will occur Wednesday, March 31, at 2 p.m. near the former Martinsville-Henry County Rescue Squad building on Hooker Street in the City of Martinsville. We will park there and take a short walk onto the trail. Congressman Rick Boucher will be the keynote speaker.

Dick and Wille Passage Groundbreaking

2010-03-25T21:06:00.001-04:00

Friends Begin Clean-up of Fieldale Trail

2010-03-08T20:28:00.004-05:00

The “Friends of the Fieldale Trail” took to the trail on Sunday March 7, 2010 to begin the clean-up work of removing debris and repairing damage from the December flood events.
The Fieldale Trail sustained some damage due to high water which caused mud deposition in low lying areas, debris accumulation and some split rail fence just plain disappearing downstream!

The heavy snowfall of the last two months has kept the trail blanketed and wet so repair work had to be postponed. The high water brought all manner of debris to the trial from sticks, lumber, plastic and assorted trash and lots of mud.

The recent warming trend has melted the snow and allowed the mud deposited by the floods to dry out a bit and so the trail can now be accessed for some initial clean-up work. Saturday and Sunday saw large crowds of people out on the trail, desperate for some outdoor activity after all this cold weather which has created an almost permanent state of cabin fever in our region. Walkers, bikers, and fisherman were out in force on this Henry County favorite all weekend.

The Friends of the Fieldale Trail Group (FFT ) had an impromptu Sunday clean-up and ended up removing a truck load of trash, approx. 12 bags and numerous other articles from the trail and along the river bank. They removed limbs and sticks; and gathered some fencing into piles. A big thank you to Tracy Kennett for gathering most of the fencing that had been strewn along the trail. They also reinstalled fencing along parts of the trail.

The group worked on the blue bird houses to prepping them for the blue birds which will start nesting late March to early April. While on the trail, the group got a chance to engage in other hikers out enjoying the day and had some nice comments from people thanking them for all they do to help maintain the trail.
They also had several people provide them with phone numbers to call for volunteers when they have the next work day

Front row, left to right - Nancy Kennett and Molly the lab
Back row from left to right: Tracy Kennett, Tommy Wyatt, Cecil Holt, Joan Ragland, Frances Holt, Paula Wyatt

A big huge thank you to all Adopt-a-Trail Volunteers and special thank you to the
Friends of the Fieldale Trail, you guys rock !

Friends Begin Clean-up of Fieldale Trail

2010-03-08T20:28:00.003-05:00

Rivers and Bugs --oh my!

2010-02-24T15:03:00.005-05:00

Everyone is invited attend the first “Rivers and Bugs Summit” on March 13 at Moral Hill Baptist Church in Axton, Virginia (just barely east of Martinsville city limits.) The $5 registration includes: light breakfast, a catered lunch by Governor, Gwendolyn & Christine Catering, and free raffle tickets for prizes such as fishing gear, a fly-fishing lesson with Brian Williams, and DRBA canvas tote bag filled with goodies.

There is something for everyone at the summit! Speakers and session leaders include: a panel discussion with a diverse group of local church and temple leaders who are spearheading various faith-based responses to environmental issues. The panel will be moderated by Linda Drage, President, Friends of Philpott.

Minnie Moore, an educator in Patrick County, will lead a session on her work with school children and organic gardening. She started an organic garden on four blighted city lots in St. Louis during her decades-long tenure at an inner city school. Most recently, she established an organic garden with students at Patrick Springs Elementary School.

Jenny Hochstein, Director of the Halifax Improvement Council and co-owner of Pick-A-Pine, will illustrate the sustainable practices she employs on her Christmas tree farm. She will discuss the challenges and opportunities to expand sustainable living practices in Southern Virginia that reduce costs and protect water quality and wildlife habitat.

Lynn Pritchett, Master Naturalist, will introduce participants to the fundamentals of the Global Positioning Systems. This is a great session for anyone who has been curious about how GPS works, what it can do for you, and how to use it—but have been too afraid to ask.

Mary Lawson, Biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will discuss Aldo Leopold’s moral and philosophical reasons for a harmonious relationship with the natural world and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ changing attitudes toward environmental stewardship.

Wayne Kirkpatrick, DRBA President is known across the basin for his famous “Tub O’ Bugs” exhibit that introduces people of all ages to the wonders of the macro-invertebrate life in the creeks. For the first time, Wayne is leading a session on how to build your own Tub O‘Bugs for your festivals, classrooms, library programs—anywhere you want to thrill people with hands on experience with the bug life that sustains our river ecology.

Marty Bullins, Master Naturalist, will demonstrate his unique "Recycle Derby game—how he build it and how he educates watershed dwellers (that‘s all of us) on the what, when and how of recycling.

Jenny Edwards, DRBA staff, will demonstrate the “Bottle Bloom” project that engages youth in learning about watersheds and the environmental impact of litter by creating art from recycled plastic bottles. To date, more than 250 children have contributed to the bottle bloom project.

The Rivers and Bugs Summit begins at 10:00 a.m. and concludes at 2:00 p.m. on March 13 at Moral Hill Baptist Church at 50 Moral Hill Drive in Axton, Virginia. In order to give all the participants a high quality experience and a chance to fully engage in the sessions, registration is limited. “We encourage anyone interested in environmental education or healthy rivers to come out,” says Jenny Edwards, DRBA staff.

Contact Regenia Manns at (276) 634-2591 or rmanns@danriver.org or Jenny Edwards at (276) 340-2462 or jedwards@danriver.org to reserve space.

Teachers and students are eligible to have the registration fee waived, but still need to reserve a space. Registration deadline is March 11, and everyone is encouraged to register early.

The event is made possible with support from the Virginia Environmental Endowment, The Harvest Foundation, Moral Hill Baptist Church, and DRBA members.

Rivers and Bugs --oh my!

2010-02-24T15:03:00.004-05:00

DRBA's Annual Celebration, 9:30 on Saturday, March 6 in Historic Caswell Courthouse

2010-02-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

DRBA's Annual Membership Celebration will be held at 9:30 on Saturday, March 6 in the historic Caswell County Courthouse in Yanceyville, NC. After refreshments and time to view displays, the short business session will include recognition of exceptional volunteer service, election of board members, and reports from DRBA's staff on activities in Virginia and North Carolina.

Featured speaker is "William Clark" of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, as portrayed by Craig (Rocky) Rockwell of Bassett, VA. For over a decade Rockwell, Operations Project Manager at Philpott Reservoir, has depicted William Clark, who became a brigadier general and played a major role in shaping the young United States in the early nineteenth century. Among the audiences for his portrayal has been the U. S. Congress in the nation's Capitol Building.

The setting for the celebration is the beautifully restored 19th century courthouse, completed in 1861 and described as one of the finest Victorian courthouses in NC. The building combines Italian Renaissance and Classical Revival features, including an arcade with pilasters whose capitals depict ears of corn and tobacco leaves.

Following the meeting and lunch at a local restaurant of the participant's choosing, two choices will offer introductions to DRBA's Caswell Heritage Trails project. One option is a moderate to strenuous hike on a proposed trail connecting Dillard Middle School and Sunvale Apartments, led by Forrest Altman. According to Altman, "This route along a sewer easement is very scenic, through deciduous forest, with views of a pretty creek. It has significant changes in elevation and will require less than an hour to hike--if the group is small and everyone is in good shape."

For those who prefer a less challenging afternoon, Chad Hall will guide a stroll on the project's first pilot trail, the Stream Walk Trail at the Caswell Senior Center. "We'll conclude this walk with a look at the proposed mountain biking trail nearby," he adds.

Participants in either walk are asked to wear hiking boots or walking shoes, dress in layers, and bring water to drink.

Directions: The courthouse is located at 144 Courthouse Square, Yanceyville, NC (36°24'11" N 79°20'10" W). The square in front of the Courthouse functions as a one-way counter-clockwise traffic circle, making all left turns. Parking is located on-street on the Courthouse side of the square, along Court Street, which the Courthouse is on, and behind the Courthouse.

From Danville, take Hwy 86 south. At Yanceyville US 158 joins Hwy 86 at the first traffic signal. Continue to the next traffic light, and turn right onto State Road 1589, (North Street). Continue for ¼ mile. The Courthouse is on the right across the square.

From South Boston, take US 58 west. At a traffic signal, turn left onto Hwy 62 south (Milton Highway). Continue for 17 miles on Hwy 62. At Yanceyville, continue straight on State road 1163 (Main Street). The Courthouse is on the left once you reach the square.

From the east, take US 158 west. Continue on NC 62 south. Continue straight on State Road 1163 (Main Street). The Courthouse is on the left once you reach the square.

From the south, take NC 62 north. Turn left onto State Road 1163 (Main Street). The Courthouse is on the left once you reach the square.
From the west, take US 158 east. Turn right at the first traffic light, joining Hwy 86 south. Continue to the next traffic light, and turn right onto State Road 1589, (North Street). Continue for ¼ mile. The Courthouse is on the right across the square.

Further information: T Butler, 336-349-5727 or members@danriver.org

February 6, 2010 Hike Cancelled

2010-02-04T13:39:00.007-05:00

Due to the recent flood events

Snow & Ice

The Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing Hike on the Fieldale Trail has been cancelled.

We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Please check our website for rescheduling and future outings.

http://www.danriver.org/

February 6, 2010 Hike Cancelled

2010-02-04T13:39:00.006-05:00

Due to the recent flood events

Snow & Ice

The Dan River Basin Association's First Saturday Outing Hike on the Fieldale Trail has been cancelled.

We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Please check our website for rescheduling and future outings.

http://www.danriver.org/

Fieldale Trail Phase ll flood damage

2010-01-28T00:48:00.003-05:00

The January 23 flood brought the Smith River to levels it has not seen in many years.
Along with rising waters came the mud and debris. The waters crested around 4:00 in the am and had receded to a few feet above flood stage by mid-afternoon
The waters came....they went...they left behind lost of mud and debris

The parking lot is covered n a coating of mud and debris is washed against the banks, picnic table, canoe racks, split rail fence

The Fieldale / Koehler area was one of the low-lying regions that was hit hardest.
The Fieldale Trail, Fieldale Park and Jordan Park all suffered damage due to debris and mud and we lost split rail fencing as well. It could of been worse and for all the damage the trail still held up well. It will be a while before the mud dries out enough to be packed down for walking but the clean-up process has already begun.

Limbs and trees washed up across the trail

The Friends of the Fieldale Trail have been out accessing the damage and planning the best approach for dealing with the debris and mud. Caution signs have been installed to warn visitors of potential hazards. Right now, the wrecked parking lot, downed and missing fence, trees and debris are major problems

Hopefully we can get the trail restored to a useable state soon. The power of the water is evident everywhere and we are thankful that the bridge is still intact and there are no major washouts along the trail. Mother Nature will do much of the healing with new growth and it will be interesting to monitor the changes that may occur in the flora along the banks.

Some plantings will be installed to help stabilize the river bank (riparian areas) as resources become available

In the above photo you can see the high water mark on the left hand bank of the trail (river is on the right)

Mud covered bridge. Debris on the railing indicates water had covered the handrail..but the bridge stayed !

The section along the power lines was scoured clean by the flood, down to the old gravel and ruble

While further down the trail in the lowest areas, a blanket of mud remained after the waters receded

Fieldale Trail Phase ll flood damage

2010-01-28T00:48:00.002-05:00

The parking lot is covered n a coating of mud and debris is washed against the banks, picnic table, canoe racks, split rail fence

Some plantings will be installed to help stabilize the river bank (riparian areas) as resources become available

In the above photo you can see the high water mark on the left hand bank of the trail (river is on the right)

Mud covered bridge. Debris on the railing indicates water had covered the handrail..but the bridge stayed !

The section along the power lines was scoured clean by the flood, down to the old gravel and ruble

While further down the trail in the lowest areas, a blanket of mud remained after the waters receded

The Raising of a Bridge

2010-01-21T21:44:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that it has been seven months since the Dan River Basin Association and the Fieldale Heritage Committee started working on preserving the historic Fieldale Iron Bridge. The project started out slow but once the message got out, the public outpouring of interest was incredible! Donors from as far away as South Carolina, Washington State and even Beverly Hills, California sent in funds to help preserve the trusses. We received donations from longtime residents of Fieldale and learned some very interesting history from them along the way as well. Working together you all have raised more than $13,000 to fund the project. The rest of the costs were absorbed by numerous community sponsors that contributed goods and services to the project. Last week the day we've all been waiting for came. Mother Nature finally cooperated long enough for the trusses to be installed. Below are photos by Brian Williams and Jenny Edwards that tell the story of the day. Enjoy the photographic journey!

The day began bright and early at 8 am in below freezing temperatures on the property of Northpoint Trading, an import/export business that occupies the former Fieldcrest Mills building. The staff of this company have been incredibly accommodating to allow us to store more than 60,000 pounds of steel on their property and work on the trusses while there. A bright orange crane operated by Hall's Mechanical Services of Fieldale lifted the first truss to load it onto the truck. (Notice the snow still on the ground in the photo.)

A tractor trailer driven by Wes Craddock of Craddock Logging Supply & Repair was loaded to make the journey down River Road to Fieldale Park. Wes is the only son of the late Bobby M. Craddock of Ridgeway. Bobby was a history enthusiast and loved telling stories about points of historic interest around Henry County. When he heard about the project he eagerly donated use of his tractor trailer for the project. Sadly just days before the bridge was demolished in the summer, Bobby passed away. We thank his wife Deborah and son Wes for choosing to fulfill Bobby's wishes and continue to assist with the project. We couldn't have done it without this family! To honor their contributions, the project is named in memory of Bobby Craddock.

Over in the park, the crane set up again to lift the truss onto concrete footers. These were designed by a local engineer, Rayford Smith, and constructed by Boxley Materials. Reliable Welding of Bassett performed the welding to securely mount the trusses.

A close up shot of some of the 1,000s of rivets that were installed by hand in 1931 by a 12-man crew.

The crane packs up as Reliable completes the welding of the first truss.

Back at Northpoint Trading, Corky Hall's crane began loading the second truss.

The second truss was unloaded off of Craddock Logging Supply and Repair's truck...

...and gently placed in position.

Final details were added to make the structure safe and the site was cleaned up.

Stefan Moore, a native of Henry County, began painting the trusses. While recently the bridge was a dark grey covered with rust, many locals remember the bridge as being a bright silvery gray when it was first opened in 1932.

Once the paint has a few days to dry the memorial plaques will be applied and a trail will be constructed through the structure to allow walkers and cyclists to feel as if they are walking across the bridge. Landscaping will complete the project by adding the feel of a dry creek bed underneath. As soon as these elements are completed a spring dedication ceremony will be held at the site. Stay tuned for more details.

The Raising of a Bridge

2010-01-21T21:44:00.001-05:00

A close up shot of some of the 1,000s of rivets that were installed by hand in 1931 by a 12-man crew.

The crane packs up as Reliable completes the welding of the first truss.

Back at Northpoint Trading, Corky Hall's crane began loading the second truss.

The second truss was unloaded off of Craddock Logging Supply and Repair's truck...

...and gently placed in position.

Final details were added to make the structure safe and the site was cleaned up.

Tuesday Morning Strolls Kicks Off Third Season

2010-01-12T21:55:00.001-05:00

Below freezing temps didn't dampen the spirits for the kick off of the 2010 season of Tuesday Morning Strolls. We simply moved the walk indoors to Liberty Fair Mall! Thanks to our new partners at Martinvsille Parks & Recreation, Tuesday Morning Strolls has a new inclement weather hotline to alert participants of cancelations and location changes due to weather. More than a dozen participants came out register for the program and walk. Jeannie Frisco of Activate (shown at left in green) spoke to the participants about the importance of walking for health before we embarked upon a one mile walk (five laps around the mall). Throughout the walk, participants answered trivia questions about health & nutrition and some even won prizes.

Tuesday Morning Strolls is a partnership between the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Martinsville Parks & Recreation and Activate M-HC.

The next Tuesday Morning Stroll will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 19th at Wilson Park. The group will meet at 9 a..m. Contact Regenia Manns for more information on the walk at 276-634-2591.

Tuesday Morning Strolls Kicks Off Third Season

2010-01-12T21:55:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Morning Strolls is a partnership between the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Martinsville Parks & Recreation and Activate M-HC.

The next Tuesday Morning Stroll will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 19th at Wilson Park. The group will meet at 9 a..m. Contact Regenia Manns for more information on the walk at 276-634-2591.

Lost & Found

2010-01-04T11:14:00.001-05:00

A kayak with "Tomas" on it was recently found. If it is yours or you know whose it may be, please email pbdivers@yahoo.com.

Lost & Found

2010-01-04T11:14:00.000-05:00

A kayak with "Tomas" on it was recently found. If it is yours or you know whose it may be, please email pbdivers@yahoo.com.

Get Active in 2010!

2010-01-04T09:13:00.003-05:00

Now that winter is here, it's no time to hibernate; get out and get active with Tuesday Morning Strolls! On the first and third Tuesdays of each month, walk leaders will guide participants on an easy-paced walk at various destinations throughout Martinsville and Henry County. The free walks begin at 9 AM and last for approximately 50 minutes each. The first walk will be held on January 5th at Liberty Fair Mall (Commonwealth Bloulevard, Martinsville). We will meet at the former Goody's entrance (to the right of JC Penny's). Participants are asked to bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Tuesday Morning Strolls began in 2008 and is a partnership between the Dan River Basin Association, Henry County Parks & Recreation, Martinsville Parks & Recreation, and Activate Martinsville-Henry County. The program is funded with support from the Harvest Foundation. Everyone who joins a walk will receive a punch card to register for prize drawings upon the completion of the season. Each participant will receive one entry for each walk completed between now and the end of the season. The drawing will be held on December 7, 2010.

According to Activate Martinsville-Henry County, research shows that physical activity such as walking helps reduce the risk of developing chronic disease (such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers) by as much as 30-50%. Walking also helps to reduce stress, improves energy, and aids in better sleep. These are all perfect reasons to get out and start walking in the New Year! For more information or to pre-register, please call: 276-634-2545 or 276-634-4643.

January 5th- Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville
January 19th- Wilson Park, Martinsville
February 2nd- Jack Dalton Park, Collinsville
February 16th- Uptown Spur Trail, Martinsville
March 2nd- Fieldale Trail, Fieldale
March 16th- YMCA, Martinsville
April 6th- Smith River Sports Complex, Axton
April 20th- Lake Lanier, Martinsville
May 4th- Dick & Willie Passage I, Collinsville
May 18th- Dick & Willie Passage II, Martinsville
June 1st- Gravely Nature Preserve, Ridgeway
June 15th- Fieldale Trail, Fieldale
July 6th- Uptown Spur Trail, Martinsville
July 20th- Dick & Willie Passage III, Martinsville
August 3rd- Beaver Creek Reservoir, Collinsville
August 17th- Jack Dalton Park, Collinsville
September 7th- Philpott Greenway, Bassett
September 21st- Jaycee Park, Collinsville
October 5th- Fieldale Trail, Fieldale
October 19th- Doe Run Park, Martinsville
November 2nd- Spencer Penn Centre, Spencer
November 16th- Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville
December 7th- Uptown Spur Trail & Church Street, Martinsville

Get Active in 2010!

2010-01-04T09:13:00.002-05:00