2005 Summary. Although no funding from DLIA was received to support research in 2005, residual funds received in 2004 (and continuing in-kind and leveraged funding) allowed us to visit the Park in August 2005. We completed collections for aquatic oligochaetes at 10 stream sites and three spring sites on 22-25 August. In addition, a scientific collecting permit from the Blue Ridge Parkway allowed us the opportunity to collect aquatic oligochaetes on 20 August from four spring/seep areas along the Parkway, all located near BRP mile marker 450.
During this visit, we also had the opportunity to demonstrate our field techniques for collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates and water quality monitoring to Jennifer Arnold and other educational specialists / naturalists working at the Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont.
Locality information for each site noted below (to be completed soon) will be taken from current editions of USGS topographic quadrangle maps (USGS tqm). UTM = Universal Transverse Mercator System coordinates. Latitude and longitude coordinates obtained in the field using a Garman eTrex Vista GPS unit were recorded in decimal degrees, then verified using TopoZone.com prior to entry into fields in the project database. Elevation (water level of stream, or at spring outflow) is expressed in feet above mean sea level (MSL). Habitat characterizations, site photographs, and values for field water quality parameters monitored at each site during the biological survey will be posted here soon.
Abbreviated locality information for sites surveyed 21-25 August 2005.
Blue Ridge Parkway [NPS permit No.: BLRI-2005-SCI-0027]
BRP2005-1. USA: North Carolina, Jackson Co., BRP seep 449.8 (west side of road). 21 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-85) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
BRP2005-2. USA: North Carolina, Jackson Co., BRP seep 452.2 (east side of road). 21 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-86) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
BRP2005-3. USA: North Carolina, Jackson Co., Woolyback overlook springrun, BRP 452.3 (west side of road). 21 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-87) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
BRP2005-4. USA: North Carolina, Jackson Co., rockface seep, BRP 453.55, near Horkbuckle overlook. 21 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-88) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
Sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. [NPS permit No.: GRSM-2005-SCI-0020]
GSMNP2005-1A. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: Will Walker Spring, in springbox, in shallow ravine ~150m E GSMIT offices [just N of gravel access road to primary dormitory facility, just east of parking lot for offices] at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT); in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Latitude 35.64145° North, longitude 83.68913° West. Universal Transverse Mercator System: Zone 17, 0256514m East, 3947512m North. (NAD:1983), Wear Cove, TN USGS quad map. 22 August 2005. GSMNP2005-1A. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-89A) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP); Jeanie Hilten, DLIA/ATBI (observer).
GSMNP2005-1B. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: Will Walker Spring, in springrun, [10m dnstrm (W) springbox] in shallow ravine ~140m E GSMIT offices [just N of gravel access road to primary dormitory facility, just east of parking lot for offices] at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT); in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Latitude 35.64145° North, longitude 83.68913° West. Universal Transverse Mercator System: Zone 17, 0256514m East, 3947512m North. (NAD:1983), Wear Cove, TN USGS quad map. 22 August 2005. GSMNP2005-1B. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-89B) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP); Jeanie Hilten, DLIA/ATBI (observer).
GSMNP2005-2. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: Spruce Flats Falls Creek, 10-20m downstream (WSW) falls. 22 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-90), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-3. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: unnamed tributary / rockface seep area, Fodderstack Mountain drainage, near GSMIT. 22 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-91) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-4. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: Loan Branch, just west of small settlement cemetery, at GSMIT. 23 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-92) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-5. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: Dorsey Branch, just N of GSMIT. 23 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-93) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-6. USA: Tennessee: Blount Co.: Bearhead Branch, N of GSMIT. 23 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-94) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-7. USA: Tennessee: Sevier Co.: Pounding Mill Branch, 23 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-95) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-8. USA: Tennessee: Cocke Co.: Foothills Parkway spring, springrun, along trail ~40m SE parkway, NE Cosby (town); 24 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-96) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-9. USA: Tennessee: Cocke Co.: Amphitheater spring, 4.9 mi (7.9 km) SSE Cosby (town), just ENE Cosby campground Amphitheater, downslope (east) (3m) from nature trail behind amphitheater screen; in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Latitude: 35.7537° North, Longitude: 083.2067° West. UTM: Zone 17, 300480m East, 3958680m North. Elevation: 2,290'. Hartford, TENN-NC (7.5' series, 1940 edition, photorevised 1968; NAD 1927) USGS tqm. 24 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-97) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP). [this site also collected 22 September 2000]
GSMNP2005-10. USA: Tennessee: Cocke Co.: Rock Creek, W side (upstream) of road to (and north of) Cosby campground. 24 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-98) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-11. USA: North Carolina: Co.: Swain Co., Hammer Branch, 1-15m upstream (ENE) footbridge [Hammer Branch trail], ~60m upstream (NW) of confluence with Deep Creek; north of Deep Creek picnic / parking areas. 25 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-99) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-12. USA: North Carolina: Co.: Swain Co., Tom Branch Falls - cascade face and pools below upper falls, and rock face/outcroppings of lower falls; east side of Deep Creek, just north of Deep Creek picnic / parking areas. 25 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-100) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
GSMNP2005-13. USA: North Carolina: Co.: Swain Co., Juney Whank Creek, ~60m W confluence with Deep Creek (also, N side of trail to Juney Whank Falls), just north of Deep Creek picnic area / small (N) parking lot. 25 August 2005. M.J. Wetzel (#2005-101) (INHS), M.A. Peggy Morgan (FL DEP).
Information pertaining to the processing of samples collected from the above sites soon will be linked from "Progress" in the navigation bar, below. Highlights of field work conducted in 2005, and a summary of research on this project completed to date, was summarized in a presentation to participants at the 2005 annual meeting of DLIA (convened at the Holiday Inn in Gatlinburg, TN, 6-9 December), and will be included in a project report to be prepared and presented to DLIA in 2006.
I encourage you to use the site navigation bar, below, to familiarize yourself with the various aspects of this project, the research and educational opportunities associated with Discover LIfe in America and the All Taxa Biodiversity program, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
page update: 2 September 2006