If you go
› What: TVA BioBlitz at Little Cedar Mountain.› When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT Saturday, July 16.› Where: Little Cedar Mountain Trail, off I-24 Exit 158, Jasper, Tenn.› Admission: Free.› Website: https://dlia.org/events (advance registration is required).
Directions
From Interstate 24, take Exit 158 (turning left if westbound, right if eastbound). Immediately, you’ll see a sign on the right with an arrow pointing across the road to the Little Cedar Mountain Trail (a 4-mile loop). Take the gravel drive down to a parking area, which is adjacent to the interstate right-of-way fence.
Need to know
For the event, participants should:› Bring food and water for the day (no stores or restaurants nearby).› Dress for being outside and for whatever weather might arise.› Download the iNaturalist application on your phone or smart device. This app will be used to document species, information and locations.› Wear and bring sunscreen.
Discover Life in America, a small nonprofit based in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will partner with Tennessee Valley Authority this weekend for a BioBlitz survey that will involve any citizen scientists who wish to participate.
Last month, TVA and DLIA completed a biological inventory of the Melton Hill Dam Reservation Area near Oak Ridge. On Saturday, July 16, the focus shifts to Little Cedar Mountain Small Wild Area along the shore of Nickajack Lake in Jasper, Tenn.
The BioBlitz is considered family-friendly, and anyone interested in wildlife, biology or biodiversity is encouraged to participate. The surveys highlight field collection, specimen identification and education sessions on birds, butterflies and plants.
No experience is necessary. Collection and preservation equipment will be provided, and experts will be on hand to train participants and identify species.
"These biological inventory events offer an opportunity to learn more about the biodiversity that surrounds us in our backyards and on public lands," says Todd Witcher, executive director of Discover Life in America. "By collecting species occurrence data, these BioBlitzes will help us better manage natural areas while raising awareness of the wonderful biodiversity that exists all around."
In addition to the diversity of plant life, Little Cedar Mountain Small Wild Area supports an abundance of wildlife, according to TVA. Deer and turkey are commonly spotted, and though the secretive animal is typically hard to catch sight of, coyote signs are also common. From one of the overlooks, it's not unusual to catch sight of an osprey or even an occasional bald eagle.
The DLIA website has a YouTube video for more information on BioBlitzes. Advance registration is required.