April/May 2019
Appalachia’s incredible caves offer unusual adventures and provide shelter to rare, unique creatures. Below, read about some of our region’s underground inhabitants, and find your own cave to explore.
We also cover advances in solar power in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky, along with articles on community broadband and Central Appalachia’s changing economy. And check out our recurring columns to learn about permaculture ponds, discover an old-growth forest hike in Kentucky’s Harlan County and catch up on energy news.
Appalachia Underground
Discover the wonders of Appalachia’s subterranean landscape and read about a multi-year effort to save North Carolina’s sole known population of endangered Virginia big-eared bats.
Caving Adventures: A Guide to Some of the Region’s Best Caving Spots
A Brighter Economy for Appalachia
Explore stories from the frontlines of our region’s economic transition and learn about exciting solar projects taking root in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky.
Featured Stories
Pipelines Plagued by Lawsuits and Delays
Construction remains halted on most of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s route and on some of the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s route due to a slew of legal issues.
Columns
Hiking the Highlands
Exploring Old Growth Forest in Historic Harlan County
Kentucky’s Harlan County, perhaps best known for its mining history, is also home to a wonderful old-growth forest preserve with several hiking trails.
Naturalist's Notebook
Fascinating Cave Creatures of Appalachia
Hidden underneath the majesty of the Appalachian mountains is a strange, enchanting cave ecosystem full of unusual creatures.
Member Spotlight
A Milestone for Southwest Virginia Solar
This spring marks a poignant milestone for solar…
This Green House
Permaculture Ponds
The Todds use permaculture principles to create sustainable systems that can improve water quality, treat wastewater and provide other benefits.
Politics
Congressional Hearing Addresses Abandoned Mine Cleanup
Regional leaders testified in front of a U.S. House subcommittee about strategies to restore abandoned mines and witnesses expressed support for the RECLAIM Act.
Most Sweeping Public Lands Bill in Decades Becomes Law
New public lands legislation designates 1.3 million acres of new wilderness, reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and more.
Duke and Dominion Energy’s Contributions to NC Legislature
The two monopoly utilities contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to North Carolina legislative campaigns in 2018.
Across Appalachia
Environmental Groups Reach Agreement with Forest Service for Timber Sale
After three years of deliberations with environmental groups, the U.S. Forest Service reduced the acreage of a timber sale in the Jefferson National Forest and took other measures to protect water quality.
Proposal for Ohio River Water Pollution Standards Undergoes Third Revision
The proposed plan would continue to allow the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission to set water pollution limits, but would allow states to make different restrictions on a conditional basis.
Southeast Endangered Species Get Less Funding Compared to Other Regions
Conservation biologist Bernie Kuhajda found that some aquatic species outside of the Southeast receive as much as 46.6 times more funding than those in the region.
Energy Report
Friends of Perry State Forest Fight Mine Permit
The proposed 545-acre strip mine in Ohio would encompass 12 percent of the state forest and would be managed by the former CEO of a coal company that covered up water quality violations.
Westmoreland Coal Allowed to Sever Worker Agreements
In February, a federal judge allowed Westmoreland Coal Company to terminate benefits for current and retired coal miners.