Virginia: Clinch and Maury rivers

man in a canoe goes over a rapid

Clinch River Location: The Clinch River forms in Tazewell County, Va., flowing unfettered through Southwest Virginia on its way to Tennessee, where it encounters two dams before joining the Tennessee River. How to access: The Virginia section of the Clinch hosts numerous launch and take-out sites. Review a map and mileage information at clinchriverva.com. Difficulty:…

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Moving Appalachia forward

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President Obama recently proposed more than $1 billion in funding to restore lands and waters in coal-impacted communities and boost efforts to grow sustainable local economies. It’s a sound idea, and a long time coming, although Congress may not approve it. Meanwhile, Appalachian Voices and others continue working to move the region forward.

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Clinch Water Revival: Ecotourism on the River

By Kimber Ray No one could fail to notice Clinch River Adventures. Just off the banks of the Clinch River, this tubing, canoeing and kayaking outfitter is housed in a bright red caboose with the town’s name, St. Paul, painted on the side. But the colorful building is far from the most prominent attribute people…

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Streamside Technology in the Clinch River Valley

By Kimber Ray Although visitors are unlikely to stumble upon Saint Paul, Va., by chance, those who do might be surprised to learn that this small, rural town hosts some of the most novel trails in the country. Located along the crystal-clear waters of the Clinch River in Russell and Wise Counties, Saint Paul boasts…

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Preserving the “Heart of Appalachia”

By Kimber Ray Tracking the Trails of a Reinspired History Clinch Water Revival: Ecotourism on the River | River Access: A Community Effort Hiking the Highlands: Streamside Technology in the Clinch River Valley When a developer from New York told Charlie McConnell, the founder of a music venue in Coeburn, Va., that the best asset…

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Advancing a Creative Economy for the Clinch River Valley

By Kimber Ray In the remote coalfields of southwest Virginia, a collaborative grassroots project is taking on the challenge of balancing job creation and environmental conservation. The Clinch River Valley Initiative, conceived at an economic development forum in 2010, is an award-winning coalition of concerned citizens, local government, and environmental and business groups, ardently committed…

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