Greenbrier River Watershed

Greenbrier River Watershed. . , Wherever you are, you are in a watershed. It is the land area and water that drains into a common stream, lake and river. This includes water flowing on the surface and water underground., As above.. The people of the Greenbrier River live in a complex maze of interlocking ecosystems. Here, the Allegheny range of the world's oldest mountains, the Appalachians, shelter Ice Age relics at the river's headwaters. Hundreds of tributaries supply water to riparian, forest and farming communities. Always changing, the flow of water combines with the contours of the land, creating special micro-climates., So Below… Beneath the surface, the world is a labyrinth of sunless tunnels, huge rooms and glittering cave formations. Much of what would be surface water disappears into sinkholes and cave openings into these intricate underground pathways. The wildlife in these complex mazes is small and specialized, able to live in a world without light. Part of their success lies in their interdependence. If one species were removed, the entire ecology might collapse., Think of a watershed as a living being and the River as the center of a great regional circulatory system. Our earth's surface is 2/3 water; our bodies are 2/3 water. Our wetlands act for the earth like our kidneys act for our bodies, filtering pollution and sediment. The wilderness is our young body, free of pollutants, toxins and build-up. Karst lands resemble bone interior, porous, holey tissue with irregular spacings. Water gathers nutrients, percolating through karst limestone, very much like blood is re-supplied through our bone marrow. All this remarkable activity for homeostasis, to sustain life in balance., The Greenbrier River Trail is an enduring legacy of the railroad boom. Beginning at milepost 3, upriver on Stonehouse Road, the Trail follows the river though Greenbrier into Pocahontas County up to the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, nearly 80 miles. The fine gravel surface, gentle grade and splendid scenery of the Greenbrier River Trail make it a hiking and bicycling favorite for families., RiverWise Labyrinth
The Greenbrier River is an essential part of our community life; it enriches and inspires us. RiverWise Labyrinth is an appreciation, a prayer, a poem to the river. We invite you to explore.. , Hundreds of folks came together in a multitude of creative ways to learn about our local watershed and create RiverWise Labyrinth, dedicated in August 2006. This community art project exemplifies innovative watershed-centered environmental education and was led by Dottywood Community Art. Many key concepts came from local participants, including marrying water to a labyrinth and the basic labyrinth design. Aaron Chantrill, talented designer of original labyrinths from grass, snow, sand, and concrete, finalized this unique design. You can learn what we studied and what we value as you walk the path and view the drawings and words etched directly into the path by people of all ages., The City of Lewisburg's commitment to sustainability and nature recreation through preservation of green and common space was central to project success. So many folks were integral to envisioning and building this special legacy project. Thanks to all!, [Captions:] , The Greenbrier River bisects the valley like a watery ribbon, flowing for 173 miles; it receives water from 1,641 square miles of land., Rhododendron maximum, Great Laurel or Big Laurel. West Virginia State Flower, For centuries labyrinths have represented renewal and rebirth, a fitting metaphor for our Greenbrier River, which is constantly renewed.