HD106 - The Recreational Development Potential of the Clinch River Valley in Russell County


Executive Summary:
The 2005 General Assembly requested that the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing day use recreational access sites along the Clinch River in the vicinity of the Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve in Russell County. The study area considered in this report ran from the Route 80 bridge at Blackford to the DGIF boat landing at Carterton, a distance of 32 river miles. While the charge of this report was to identify day-use recreation enhancements near the Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, the significance of the region led the study team to expand the study to the consideration of a more comprehensive range of recreational development options encompassing the entire study area.

It was apparent to the study team that the region has many assets that, when considered together, create the critical mass of special features required for development of a destination eco-tourism economy. The Clinch River Valley in Russell County offers spectacular scenery, challenging hiking and whitewater paddling opportunities, a productive fishery, and a diversity of special habitats with unique populations of flora and fauna of national and international significance. To realize this potential, improvements will need to be made in visitor services, educational media, and in marketing.

First, the Clinch River Valley supports one of the world’s most significant concentrations of natural heritage resources. If a coordinated effort was made to provide access, educational materials, and a successful way to communicate with and attract the right audience, the Clinch River Valley could become a major destination for nature study enthusiasts. The Virginia Outdoors Plan reports that 34% of the population of Virginia enjoys visiting natural areas. The number of participants in natural resource based educational and interpretive programs offered in Virginia State Parks in 2004 exceeded 238,000 persons. Furthermore, the popularity of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail also suggests that there is a ready population of potential visitors for a Clinch River Valley natural heritage area.

The Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve was established in 1989 following the donation by Russell County of a parcel of land lying at the confluence of Big Cedar Creek and the Clinch River. Since 1989 DCR has acquired other properties adjacent to the Pinnacle that have important natural heritage values and they have been incorporated into the Natural Area Preserve. Another Natural Area Preserve has been recently acquired downstream near Cleveland that is called the Cleveland Barrens Natural Area Preserve. These two state Natural Area Preserves and other important lands being protected by The Nature Conservancy and other entities are protecting some of the more unique and special lands in the Clinch River Valley. These lands can form the base for the nature study component of the eco-tourism economy in the Valley.

Second, the Clinch River Valley offers incomparable scenery as the ancient river runs through an ever-changing landscape. In many places high cliffs dominate and the river plunges through a narrow gorge, in other sections the Valley widens and farms dot the shoreline. The Clinch River is a designated State Scenic River and well deserving of its status. Designated scenic byways and bicycle routes provide access to the most scenic views in the region. As a scenic attraction it has few equals. However, its beauty is a well-kept secret, for few tourists visit the Valley.

The third major attraction of the Clinch River Valley is its outstanding river recreational offerings. The Clinch River is a superior canoeing, kayaking, and fishing river. For many miles the river offers premiere whitewater. In other sections it slows down and offers ideal trips for novice paddlers. In all areas the fishing is excellent. Public access to the river has been provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority in partnership with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and is adequate in most stretches of the river. What is missing from a comprehensive recreational delivery system is a hospitality industry to provide food and accommodations for overnight stays, outfitter services to rent canoes, kayaks, rafts, and to provide shuttle services, and an adequate system of managed public use areas along the river to provide rest stops, picnic areas, and camping grounds needed to support a popular destination recreation area. The Clinch River in Russell County is more that four hours away from most potential markets. Overnight accommodations and suitable food service offerings will be needed if the Valley is to realize its potential as an eco-tourism destination.

The range of alternatives considered begins with development of a local park and expands through a commercial park scenario all the way to the full service state park level. Projected costs for development of each alternative are presented. At the lowest level, a local park, the expected visitation will be relatively low and the impacts to the sensitive natural resources and the current social and recreational carrying capacity of the current infrastructure will be minimal. Those alternatives that propose higher levels of development assume that a decision is made to develop an eco-tourism industry in Russell County to capitalize on the unique confluence of resources and opportunities within the study area.

This report identifies several locations that could be utilized to provide core support and service needs while other sites are identified that can offer educational or interpretive services but which are too ecologically sensitive to support heavy recreational use. In preparation of a master plan for the Valley, careful balancing will be required to ensure that the sensitive natural resources of the Valley are protected from impacts caused by visitors coming to enjoy them. Less sensitive areas can accommodate the development of campgrounds, picnic areas, nature centers, cabins, maintenance and administrative buildings, and park staff residences. Hiking and bicycle trails can provide access to remote backcountry areas. Opportunities are extraordinary for partnering with other agencies and the private sector in the development and operations of the park and in the provision of services and activities for visitors.

Specifically, DCR’s Divisions of Planning and Recreation Resources, State Parks, and Natural Heritage in consultation with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and The Nature Conservancy have reached the following conclusions:

1. The Clinch River Valley in Russell County has the unique combination of scenic, natural, and recreational resources to function successfully as a destination eco-tourism destination. A range of options exist for the locality, region, state and private sectors to take greater advantage of these resources.

2. For this potential to be realized, facilities for overnight accommodations will be needed and a marketing plan must be developed and implemented.

3. A master plan that specifically identifies each node or development site that will be needed to provide access, education and interpretation, rest stops, overnight facilities, and administrative and support facilities in order to identity and promote the region’s natural assets.

4. Funding would need to be earmarked for the acquisition and development of the areas and facilities identified in the master plan and for staffing and operating the option selected.

5. Canoe liveries, outfitter and guide services, bicycle rentals and other support services will be necessary to fully facilitate recreational use of the Valley.

6. The Clinch River Valley rates among the Commonwealth’s most important natural areas. Certain aspects of the Clinch River Valley flora and fauna are recognized as state and globally rare and some of those species are federally listed or endangered and threatened. These sensitive resources are, in part, protected by DCR at its Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve in the northern end of the study areas and at its Cleveland Barrens Natural Area Preserve in the southern end. The Nature Conservancy also has land holdings in the study area. Future development of recreational opportunities in the Valley should not be accomplished in a manner that would have detrimental affects on those natural heritage resources.

DCR has not made a recommendation for a preferred alternative. The findings of this study are that the Clinch River Valley in Russell County is an attractive area that would support an eco-tourism industry. Good marketing and the development of visitor support services could be needed for the region to capitalize on this opportunity. However, the sensitive nature of the environment in the Valley suggests that a government presence may be needed to properly accommodate visitor use in a manner that will protect the sensitive species and habitats from visitor impacts. A full service state park near Nash Ford would provide the most comprehensive framework for fully realizing the eco-tourism potential of the Valley, but lesser levels of development (outlined in this report) could greatly enhance the region’s recreational opportunities.