Appalachian National Scenic Trail Fall 2016 Update

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) is a unit of the National Park System. The National Park Service (NPS) has a dual role in the cooperative management of the Appalachian Trail (AT). APPA is the NPS office responsible for the overall administration of the entire Trail and the federal land-managing agency for the lands acquired by the NPS specifically for the protection of the “AT.” The APPA office is located in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

NPS 2016 Centennial Celebration

Our first two seasonal Interpretive Park Rangers, Hope Midock and Amanda Lane, have been providing special interpretive walks and talks and roving interpretation on the A.T. in Harpers Ferry this summer. In addition, they have provided staffing support for the ATC visitor center in Harpers Ferry on weekends. Through their efforts, thousands of visitors have discovered the Trail and learned about its unique cooperative management, the recreational opportunities it provides to visitors of all abilities, and the challenges and rewards that come from experiences on the A.T.

ATC HQ Staff Hosted NPS Birthday Event on August 25 – APPA brought the giant “Happy Birthday National Park Service” card for everyone to sign and ATC brought the birthday cupcakes! Visitors and staff signed the card with birthday wishes to the NPS. Ron Tipton and Matt Graves shared thoughts about the importance of the Service with the 40 people packed into the visitor center. We sang “Happy Birthday” and enjoyed “cake.”

Hike100 Challenge – Launched by Jennifer Stromberg and Hope Midock in late winter 2016, Appalachian National Scenic Trail’s Hike100 Challenge was designed to encourage new and current hikers of all abilities to get out and hike on our public lands including the Appalachian Trail. Any person who hikes a total of 100 miles in the year 2016, with at least one hike taking place on the Trail, will receive the 3x5 decal (image below). Nearly 250 have indicated they are participating and over 600 have completed the challenge and received their decals! There’s still plenty of great hiking weather left in 2016, so get out and hike!

The Find Your Park campaign was developed to help Americans use their personal, recreational, educational, and tourism interests to link them to park sites and stories. Visitation to national parks is up this year with low gas prices, a rebounding economy, and lots of Centennial publicity enticing Americans to “find their parks.” You can learn more by going to: http://findyourpark.com/?utm_source=Monday+Mashup+for+March+30%2C+2015+&utm_campaign=Monday+Mashup&utm_medium=email

Appalachian National Scenic Trail National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

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Cooperative Management The state agreements formally recognize the state agencies and club roles in AT management. Work has begun on renewing two State Agreements: Massachusetts and Maryland, with Administrative Office George McHugh having met with partners in both states. APPA will continue to meet with key partners in updating each of the agreements, with completion estimated in 2017. Once Massachusetts and Maryland are complete, APPA anticipates beginning work on the State Agreements for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In addition to the State Agreements, APPA has General Agreements with other NPS units through which the trail traverses (ATC and the local clubs are also part of these agreements). The agreement with Harpers Ferry NHP is nearing completion of the draft, and agreement updates with Delaware Water Gap NRA and C&O Canal NHP have been initiated are scheduled to be updated in 2017. Budget Fiscal Year 2016 base funding for APPA was $1.53 million. The park expects a similar budget in Fiscal Year 2017 with no increase in base funding. A continuing resolution was enacted that will ensure funding at FY16 levels through December 9, 2016. Tas agree ents ith ATC in F 16 are co plete ith s pport or the ollo ing progra s

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Planning Wayfinding Planning Underway – To prepare for the development of a Trailwide wayfinding plan, APPA and ATC hosted a WebEx on July 27 to review what wayfinding is, how the plan will be developed, and answered questions. A recording of the WebEx is available at https://atconservancy.webex.com/atconservancy/ldr.php?RCID=abca540af58b6c406ca9a61cbdb5c270 . This project was funded by the National Park Service to “Improve Visitor Safety and Experience through Comprehensive Wayfinding.” It is being managed through contract by the NPS’ Harpers Ferry Interpretive Design Center. This project will address important visitor safety, resource protection, area regulations, and trail identification/orientation needs by assessing current conditions, identifying locations for improvement, developing recommendations, and designing eight (8) pilot locations using the new standards along the A.T. The contractor met with club, agency, and ATC representatives at two of the pilot locations (Snicker’s Gap/Bears Den and Annapolis Rocks/US 40 parking areas) in late August. A schedule for when the contractor will visit the other six pilot site locations (The Priest & Three Ridges Wildernesses, County Rt. 56, VA; McAfee Knob, VA 311; Nuclear Lake, Rt. 55 near Pawling, NY; Bulls Bridge, Bulls Bridge Road, east of Rt. 7, CT; 100 Mile Wilderness, ME Rt. 15; Saddleback Mtn., ME Rt. 4) will be out soon (most likely spring of 2017). The following are some of the questions to consider for wayfinding at any location:

x Is the current signage effective? x What information should visitors know before getting on the Trail? x Are there problems finding the Trail? x Are there site plans available for parking areas and trailheads?

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x Do we need to make it apparent on the signage who owns the site and manages the Trail?

x Is there user confusion at the site currently and if so, what is confusing to visitors? x Are there regulatory requirements that are unique to the site? Sensitive habitat, wildlife,

erosion, camping, trash, etc.? x Are there messages that need to be communicated to hikers that are currently not

addressed – LNT, safety, preparedness, etc.? x Are there sign standards for the site or your organization that you are concerned be

maintained? Materials, styles, color palette, design, etc.? x How far out (parameter) does the road directional signage currently span from the

trailhead? Location of vehicular advanced directional signs on surrounding roads and highways? Do you feel more is needed?

x What is the speed of roadways approaching the trailheads? x What level of vandalism occurs at the site? x Do you have signs that need different messages for different seasons or conditions?

If you have questions about the goals of this project, please contact APPA Superintendent Wendy Janssen. National Register of Historic Places Several sections of the AT have already been included in historic districts or been determined eligible for the National Register in eight of the fourteen states through which the Trail traverses. A formal listing for the entire Trail was sought to provide greater protection without adding any additional burden to managers and volunteers. The Historic Resources of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail Multiple Property Documentation Form is under review by State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs). This project is serving as a working protocol in the NPS for multi-region documentation projects. The project team is also discussing how best to inform and communicate with tribal communities. Complementing this process are specific state listings with programmatic agreements. The draft documents for ME, MA and PA have been completed. Review is underway for the MA and PA drafts. The remaining states are scheduled as follows: 2016: New Hampshire and Vermont – funding received and contract awarded! 2017: West Virginia/Virginia

2018: N.J., Conn., N.Y., Maryland 2019: N.C., Tenn., Georgia

APPA has hosted webinar presentations for the ATC Board and Stewardship Council and provided updates at the Federal Land Managers Meetings preceding the last two AT Biennial Conferences. Webinars are planned in the near future for Federal agency partners. Sessions will then be offered to interested clubs and local agencies as state listings move forward. These sessions will offer additional opportunities to describe the process and to answer any questions. Interpretation, Education and Volunteerism Interpretive Programs in Harpers Ferry – Part Centennial celebration and part experiment, we hired two seasonal Park Ranger/Interpreters for the 2016 season. After receiving training in

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interpretive skills, safety, resource information, and A.T. cooperative management, we developed a schedule for interpretive walks, talks, and “roving” (informal visitor contacts along the Trail), plus weekend afternoon staffing of ATC’s visitor center in Harpers Ferry. All of these public programs proved to be a huge success, with informal visitor contacts on the Trail in Lower Town Harpers Ferry proving to be an incredible way to engage visitors in conversations about the Trail, its meanings and significance.

x Guided Hikes – 15 hikes; 153 participants x Talks –16 talks; 164 participants x Informal Visitor Contacts – 7,030 contacts x ATC Visitor Center Contacts – 722 contacts

Family Hiking Day/National Public Lands Day – APPA seasonal interpretive rangers planned an event to celebrate Family Hiking Day and National Public Lands day to encourage families to enjoy nature and hiking together. Two family-friendly hikes were presented, along with on-going educational A.T. activities throughout the day on September 24. Place-based Service Learning Workshops Held for Teachers – With support of ATC, NPS staff coordinated the planning and delivery of a 3 graduate credit teacher professional development workshop in Harpers Ferry on August 4 and 5. The two-day workshop for 4th-8th grade teachers from Jefferson County, WV and Loudoun County, VA was jammed with subject matter content our local “place,” hands-on demonstration of place-based learning in the field, and an introduction to lesson development incorporating authentic places and service learning. Twenty-five teachers participated with twenty-one others pursuing the additional work required to receive graduate credit from Shepherd University. Workshop feedback and evaluations were outstanding with numerous teachers reporting immediate use of the content in their classrooms. In addition to the two-day workshops, APPA also provided a half-day introduction to the Trail as a place-based outdoor learning classroom for thirty-one middle and high school social studies teachers from Jefferson County, WV. This mini-workshop was done in partnership with Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the Chesapeake & Ohio National Historical Park. APPA Hosts Partners in the Parks – APPA staff planned and delivered a 7-day experiential learning experience for 11 National Collegiate Honors students from universities around the country. While Partners in the Parks (PitP) programs have been taking place in national parks around the country since 2008, this is the first PitP program to be held on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. APPA staff worked with faculty at Virginia Tech to coordinate the week’s activities. Aligning with the Department of the Interior’s “Play, Learn, Serve, and Work” initiative, the students’ time in Harpers Ferry included 2 nights/3 days backpacking on the A.T.; a service learning project; instructional presentations and discussion revolving around the Cooperative Management System, eco-tourism, visitor use management, and outdoor ethics. Staff from Harpers Ferry and C&O Canal National Historical Parks, ATC, APPA, and Dr. Jeff Marion of VA Tech all instructed sessions and lead discussions. For more information visit - http://nchchonors.org/partners-in-the-parks/ Next Generation Advisory Council – Hope Midock represented the NPS at the first gathering of the Next Generation Advisory Council at the Len Foote Hike Inn in May. Volunteer Service Agreements – NPS and USFS policy requires that all volunteers on public lands be signed-up under a current individual or group Volunteer Service Agreement. These agreements are intended to protect the volunteer and ensure that they have the training, equipment, and support to do their work both effectively and safely. Volunteer Service Agreements should include a job description; listing of training, certification, and/or safety standards to accomplish the work; along with a lead contact for the volunteer organization (club) and an agency representative. Many of the clubs working on non-Forest Service lands have outdated or non-existent agreements. APPA staff is working with ATC and the PCRC on

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developing an efficient yet thorough way to have current and complete Volunteer Service Agreements with all volunteers who work on NPS lands on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, just as they do with the Forest Service. Volunteers Leadership Meeting – Wendy Janssen and Matt Graves participated in the Volunteer Leadership Meeting August 26-28 at NCTC. 85 people attended all or part of the meeting, with 28 clubs represented. Gayle Hazelwood, the NPS’ Senior Urban Program Manager, participated in a panel discussion on Friday evening and was the keynote speaker on Saturday evening. Gayle is leading the Service in highlighting the importance of our nation’s urban centers and using them to connect with our next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates. Several Next Generation Advisory Council members participated in the meeting. APPA co-funded the meeting this year. Safety Training – During the Volunteer Leadership meeting, Matt Graves presented a safety presentation on the core principles of Operational Leadership (OL) – a behavior-based safety program used by the entire National Park Service based on a program used by the U.S. Coast Guard. OL complements current safety training, certifications, Job Hazard Analysis, personal protective equipment, and other safety programs by focusing on the human behavior elements of safety. The session was extremely well received by the volunteers, with several requests to present the session to their clubs. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail has developed the web-based TrailSafe! program to train their trail volunteers in the concepts and principles of OL. Appalachian Trail volunteers can view the training sessions by visiting the Ice Trail’s website at https://www.nps.gov/iatr/trail-safe.htm . These training videos were completed on a “zero budget” but the content has been reviewed and verified by the National Safety Manager for the National Park Service and by the safety contractor who developed the program. The Ice Age Trail has welcomed our use of this program but cannot manage the “training verification roster” so please do not use that function. External Issues APPA and its partners review multiple plans for projects potentially affecting the AT, either directly or indirectly, and at various locations along the entire length of the Trail. These projects consist of developments proposed by other federal agencies, developments that require federal regulatory oversight, and proposals with state and local government oversight. APPA participates by providing feedback through various public review processes at all levels of government. Project types vary and include telecommunications towers, transmission lines, and gas pipelines. Below are some of the active proposals that may impact the AT. Please try to stay informed and engaged as these projects evolve and notify the APPA office with any updates or new projects.

Gas Pipeline Projects

1) Mountain Valley - 301-mile pipeline from northwestern WV to southern Virginia. Proposed crossing of AT northeast of Rice Field shelter in the Jefferson National Forest. Conventional bore proposed. DEIS is currently out for public review with comments due to FERC December 22, 2016.

2) Atlantic Coast - 554-mile pipeline in WV, VA, and NC. Proposed AT crossing north of Reeds Gap in the George Washington National Forest. Long distance horizontal directional drill (HDD) proposed under the AT and Blue Ridge Parkway with a contingency plan in case HDD fails. Expect DEIS to be released this December.

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3) Atlantic Sunrise - 198-mile pipeline in PA, MD, VA, NC, and SC. Proposed AT crossing on PA Game Commission land near Swatara State Park. APPA and ATC submitted comments on the DEIS in July 2016.

4) PennEast - 118-mile pipeline from northeastern PA to Mercer County, NJ. Proposed

crossing of AT is near Little Gap and the Blue Mountain Ski Resort in PA. APPA, ATC, and AMC-DV submitted comments on the DEIS in September 2016.

5) Pilgrim Pipeline - 178-mile, two parallel pipelines between Albany, NY and Linden, NJ.

Proposed crossing of AT is west of Fingerboard shelter, along Interstate 87 in Orange County, NY. Expect the NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation to scope for comments soon. See [http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/105174.html].

Telecommunication Projects 1) Norfolk Southern Railroad Communication Tower - 125-ft tall lattice tower in

Duncannon, PA. NPS, ATC, and MCM have requested to be consulted under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

2) Catherine’s Rest Cell Tower - 185-foot monopole south of Key’s Gap in Loudoun County, VA. APPA, ATC, and PATC spent a considerable amount of time consulting on this project. Several, but not all proposed mitigation measures were agreed upon to minimize impacts to the AT.

3) Bear Den Mountain Towers - Several towers at Bear Den Mountain in Shenandoah National Park will be removed pending compliance completion and permitting. The removal should occur either in October or next spring.

4) Fox Gap Tower Site - near Kirkridge shelter in PA. APPA continues to work through

compliance and permitting of changes made to the site without NPS approval. APPA and ATC visited the site in July. An Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared and will be made available for public review and comment.

Transmission Line Projects 1) Dominion 543 Rebuild - Dominion is proposing to rebuild structures on its 500 kV

power line known as the 534 line near Dooms-Bremo line in VA. Dominion submitted an application to Shenandoah National Park to replace two towers and construct temporary access roads on NPS land. One tower is located on APPA land.

2) Northern Pass - 192-mile electric transmission line across the U.S./Canada border in NH. Three alternative route crossings of the AT with the proposed route crossing the AT underground along Route 112 at Kinsman Notch in the White Mountain National Forest in NH. APPA and ATC submitted comments on the Supplemental DEIS in April 2016.

3) Dominion Undergrounding Project - Dominion Virginia Power (DVP) is proposing to

underground an existing overhead electric utility line that crosses the AT near Dicks Dome shelter in VA. The project is on NPS land, so requires APPA compliance review and construction and right-of-way permits.

4) South Bluefield-Wythe Rebuild - 25-mile existing 69 kV Appalachian Power Company

transmission line in VA to be upgraded to138 kV. The existing line crosses the AT within the Jefferson National Forest near Bland, VA. The USFS released a draft EA in July 2016. NPS, ATC, and PATH are working with the USFS on mitigation for AT impacts.

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Transportation Projects 1) Hunters Run Bridge Replacement - PennDOT proposes to replace a deteriorating

bridge over Hunters Run on Carlisle Road in Cumberland County, PA. Construction will be staged with no detour needed. ATC and NPS continue to consult with PennDOT on this project. Additional ROW on NPS land will require permitting and compliance.

2) Corridor K / A-0009 - An old project looking at US 74 relocation in NC has been

restarted. NCDOT and FHWA are consulting with agencies and stakeholders on a new design. ATC attended a team meeting in August.

Land Acquisition Land acquisition utilizing compensatory mitigation funds from the Susquehanna Roseland project is proceeding, with negotiations for several more parcels underway. $3.1 million in FY16 LWCF was utilized for the acquisition of three properties – Pomfret Pines in VT (456 acres), Dartmouth College’s Hudson Farm in NH (173 acres), and Hottle-Fahey in MA (306 acres). We continue to work with partners such as The Conservation Fund, Trust for Public Land, ME AT Land Trust, the Open Space Institute, Elliotsville Plantation, and the National Park Foundation on land acquisition along the AT, with several properties in Maine moving forward Ranger Activities Please remember to share incidents at Incidents@appalachaintrail.org. Feel free to contact Chief Ranger Remaley at (304) 535-6171 for resources or suggestions. Filming and Event Special Park Use Permits Please refer any inquiries that may require a special park use permit to the APPA office at (304) 535-6278. Resources Management Geologic Scoping Meeting – Meetings were held the week of May 2 for the National Park Service Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) which is tasked with providing each of the NPS’ 270 Inventory and Monitoring parks with an on-site geologic scoping meeting and summary, a digital geologic map in a GIS, and a geologic report. Here is a link explaining the GRI in more detail and other links to GRI products: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/inventory/geology/index.cfm The purpose of a GRI scoping meeting is to: 1) evaluate the adequacy of existing geologic maps for resource management and education purposes; 2) discuss distinctive geologic features and processes; 3) identify potential geologic management issues. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) was the last of the 270 parks to have a scoping meeting. The NPS GRI scoping meeting for the APPA was divided into three meetings (Gatlinburg, TN, Shepherdstown, WV, and Amherst MA), in order to facilitate attendance by participants spread over the wide geographical area covered by the Trail. Participants included NPS staff from the

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Geologic Resources Division in CO, APPA, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Inventory and Monitoring Networks; GRI team members from Colorado State University; representatives from the state geologic surveys of all 14 states through which APPA passes; staff from the US Geological Survey (USGS), USDA Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and faculty from the University of Massachusetts. NASA DEVELOP Program – The Appalachian Trail Health and Air Quality project was completed with a poster session at the Department of the Interior on August 9 in Washington, DC. The NASA DEVELOP Program is a capacity-building program with the Applied Sciences Program at NASA which works to address community and environmental concerns using NASA Earth Observations in order to provide end users more information to support their decision-making process. The AT project occurred over a ten week period this summer in conjunction with other NPS units such as Shenandoah NP, Harpers Ferry NHP, and Great Smoky Mountains NP. The project mapped tropospheric ozone hotspots along the Appalachian Trail and surrounding national parks. Research Permits – Jim has responded to many research permits along the Trail during his short tenure, highlighting the importance of the AT to researchers and the Trail’s value as an “outdoor laboratory.” Draft Fire Management Plan - Jim, Denise, and Todd have been reviewing a draft Fire Management Plan/Environmental Assessment for Multiple NPS Units Nationwide, including APPA. APPA Vegetation Mapping Project - Jim is working with USGS and NETN I&M program on a reconciliation plan for dealing with data and mapping discrepancies for the APPA Vegetation Mapping Project. Natural Resources Retreat – APPA and ATC staff met from 9/13-15 to discuss the overall AT natural resources program and its future direction. Specific topics included: NPS Natural Resource Condition Assessment; AT Large Landscape Initiative; the Inventory & Monitoring Network; research on the AT; what are the most significant threats to natural resources – within the trail corridor and within the AT landscape; effectively managing natural resources; how best to meet resource management obligations and strategically align natural resource projects; strategies to address air quality and climate change threats; strategies to address invasive species; developing management plans; pesticide licensing; compliance issues; future of rare plant monitoring; identifying 2017-2020 objectives. Trail Inventory Process Since fall 2014, APPA and ATC have been working on a new trail-wide inventory process to capture additional information needed for entry into the National Park Service (NPS) Facility Management Software System (FMSS). This project will incorporate detailed information into FMSS, so that we “cooperatively” can accurately capture the cost of AT features, better understand what we have, improve our planning, strategize how to prioritize work efforts, and enhance our ability to compete for project funding. Currently APPA is anticipating that all inventory data will be submitted for processing by the end of the 2016 field season. This is a “HUGE” accomplishment, and APPA staff would like to thank everyone who has participated in this process. Next steps will be to process the data into GIS, fix any errors or collect missing information, re-process any new data, and then begin to organize and input the data into FMSS. APPA staff anticipates that it will take several months to complete this work. Once complete, this inventory data set can be used a tool to plan and organize ATC and trail club facility maintenance needs The APPA Facility Management division

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hopes to have the data fully integrated into FMSS and sent to ATC and volunteers by the 2017 Fall RPC. Trail Maintainer Section Complete/Submitted to APPA (As of Mid-September) NERO – 123 out of 257 sections reported (48%) MARO – 164 out of 304 sections reported (54%) VARO – 57 out of 106 sections reported (54%) SORO – 188 out of 199 sections reported (94%) Overall – 532 out of 866 sections reported (61%) Trail Inventory Update Process In an effort to keep the Trail Inventory data up-to-date, APPA, ATC, and the trail clubs have worked together to develop an update process using paper forms, until an electronic update format can be developed. This process is intended to capture all facility improvements and alterations made to FMSS Locations (Treadway, Bridges, Privies, etc.) and Features (Stone Steps, Waterbars, Guide Rail, Doors, etc.) along the Trail. APPA and ATC staff will be working together over the winter to develop the electronic format, using ArcGIS Online. Paper Form Process: Each FMSS Location type will have its own form to track updates. To report an update, the trail clubs and/or ATC staff will select one of the following options, “Location Added”, “Location Removed”, “Feature Added”, and “Feature Removed”. When volunteers or staff head out to work on FMSS Locations, staff and/or volunteers are encouraged to take the appropriate form with them, and document the work accomplished at each location at the end of the work day and/or project. Once the form is filled out, the trail club volunteers or ATC staff will email a scan of the paper form, or a send a copy of the electronic form to APPA_Facilities@nps.gov, or mail the form to Appalachian National Scenic Trail Office, Facility Department P.O. Box 50, Harpers Ferry WV 25425. APPA staff will collect the forms and updated the information in the Trail Inventory Spreadsheet. APPA will use this spreadsheet to update GIS and FMSS information two to three times per year, depending on the frequency and number of updates made. Once the FMSS and GIS information has been updated, APPA will provide ATC staff and the volunteers with the most up-to-date Trail Inventory information, whether that be in the form of a new GIS map link, an updated version of the map or a spreadsheet. Electronic (ArcGIS) Process: Still in development. APPA and ATC are targeting implementation by Spring RPC. Once this process is complete, APPA and AT partners will have a communication tool that will keep each other informed of facility developments in real time. Incidentally Acquired Structure Removal APPA, NPS Regional Office, Denver Service Center (DSC), U.S. Forest Service, and ATC have completed phase one of this structure demolition project. Phase one included the removal of structures on six sites: Sera, Boy Scouts, Troncosco, Givens, Watson, Grizzly, and Mayhew. APPA is currently seeking funding to remove structures at an additional 21 sites, including Arney, Gutlands, Henegar, Lyle, Tabler, and United Financial in Virginia; Stanely and Trinity Episcopal in Connecticut; Fotter, International Paper, Kesseli, and Pullen in Maine; Cunningham in New Hampshire; Guardia, Messerschmitt, Tegzes/Yegella in New York; and Bartlett in Vermont. Hazardous material assessments for the remaining structures have been completed. Compliance has been completed for all sites but one (Bartlett). Compliance, Report of Survey (ROS), GSA concurrence, and Title V HUD postings for Bartlett are currently underway.

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Capital Planning The APPA Office is continuing to work with ATC to develop a more streamlined Capital Planning/Project Management tool for requesting and tracking project status and funding. The goal is to develop a universal data management process that better aligns with NPS project requirements, and provide NPS, ATC and the trail clubs with a project interface to plan, develop, prioritize, and track project requests in real time. APPA and ATC staff will continue to examine options and present new material as it becomes available. Maintained Landscape Inventory APPA and ATC are continuing to improve our inventory of AT maintained landscapes or “open areas.” Currently, APPA and ATC staff are in the process of reviewing information entered for approximately 200 known maintained landscapes, including agricultural fields. Information collected so far includes: landscape name, type of landscape, where the landscape is located, who is currently maintaining the landscape, total acreage maintained, as well as current maintenance activities and challenges. This information will be utilized by APPA and ATC to create a central inventory, accurately track funding, complete FMSS/GIS data records, and develop and prioritize future projects. APPA will continue to collaborate with the NPS’ Olmsted Center of Landscape Preservation on this project. Enjoy the View Initiative The Appalachian National Scenic Trail has been selected as one of twenty-two units in the National Park Service to be part of the Call to Action initiative entitled “Enjoy the View.” The goal of this initiative is to help protect clean, clear air and the spectacular views and scenery in national park areas now and for future generations. To do this, the National Park Service will lead collaborative efforts in selected parks to identify treasured views and assess air resources. The final outcome will be a report and plan outlining steps to better protect visual resources and air quality along the Trail. APPA’s kick-off workshop was held on June 14-17, 2016 in Harpers Ferry, WV. Joining APPA and Geologic Resources Division staff were ATC staff, members of the Landscape and Resource Protection Committee, and representatives from VA DCR, PATC, AMC, and partner NPS parks Harpers Ferry NHP, Shenandoah NP, Potomac Heritage NST, and the Chesapeake Bay Program Office. Next steps were discussed at the natural resources retreat and Jim Von Haden will be sharing information in the near future. Large Landscape Conservation Initiative We continue to engage in the Call to Action initiative entitled “Scaling Up.” This initiative promotes large landscape conservation to support healthy ecosystems and cultural resources. The goal is to protect continuous corridors through partnerships. ATC and APPA will co-host the second 2-day workshop on October 4-5, 2016 at the National Conservation Training Center. Participants again will include a broad coalition from the U.S Forest Service, National Park Service, state government, trail maintaining clubs, conservation organizations, land trusts and key constituencies from communities and landscapes along the Appalachian Trail. The goals for this meeting include:

x Commiting to a Vision. We seek to clarify and commit to a shared vision that can inspire and guide us moving forward.

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x Celebrating our Progress. Much has happened since our last meeting, and we will learn about this work and seek to build upon those efforts moving forward.

x Focusing on Action. We will develop a clear and ambitious action agenda for our work together.

x Being Ambitious and Realistic. We will develop an action agenda that is balanced between an ambitious vision and practical realities.

x Building a Shared Sense of our Collaborative Rules of the Road. We will maximize the impact of our collaborative work and respect the wide range of organizational efforts.

Staffing Matt Graves will be transferring to a Supervisory Park Ranger/Interpretation position with the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park at the end of October. His district includes the 2 mile section of the AT that follows the Canal towpath. Matt has done an incredible job establishing a new position/program at APPA and his leadership will be sorely missed. We wish him all the best in his new position and thank him for his incredible contributions to the AT. In the short term, Matt’s position will be filled by a detail. Seasonal Park Ranger Hope Midock is joining an invasive plant management crew based out of Congaree National Park in South Carolina. She will be part of a team that travels to other National Park sites in the southeast managing invasive plants. Seasonal Park Ranger Amanda Lane will wrap up her season at the end of October completing a variety of interpretive/educational projects and programs. Thank you Hope and Amanda! Thomas Howell has been hired as the new LE Field Ranger. He is currently a Field Staff Law Enforcement Ranger with the Bureau of Land Management in Lander, Wyoming. Thomas began his law enforcement career with the National Park Service, most recently at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Welcome, Thomas! Nathan Glenny of the C&O Canal NHP is currently on detail in the LE Field Ranger position and has been doing a great job addressing a host of issues, including encroachments, vandalism, and other incidents, etc. Thank you, Nathan!

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