Outdoors: Cades Cove Prescribed Burns, Townsend

Tis the season to prepare for Tennessee spring in all its glory. When we took the family on our favorite ride in the state through Cades Cove, we had the privilege to see Great Smoky Mountain National Park park rangers and forestry staff participate in a prescribed burn. These folks are professionals; please don’t try this at home.

This February and March, the National Park Service is burning close to 1000 acres in the cove to promote native vegetation growth and eliminate unwanted species that can undermine a healthy ecosystem.

We have an early frontrunner for Trimble Family Tennessee Experience of the Year.

Coincidentally, the Chattanooga Audubon Society has also recently announced its plan to do the same on Maclellan Island on the River in Chattanooga in the next few weeks.

Kudos to the NPS and their staff for using the same basic process used by Native Americans and Settlers in the region for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Their dedication to preserving our natural beauty goes a long way to driving economic development in the region.

Y’all go be Tennesseans this week and see what your great state has to offer!